daughter cell

biology

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June 25, 2026

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In biology, a daughter cell is one of the two genetically identical cells that result from the division of a single parent cell. This process, known as mitosis, involves the duplication of the cell's chromosomes, which are then equally distributed to the two new nuclei of the daughter cells.1

Cell division ensures that each daughter cell receives the necessary genetic material and cellular components to function. In organisms like bacteria, this division is a simple binary fission where the chromosome replicates and the cell splits. In more complex organisms, mitosis is a more elaborate process involving the separation of chromosomes followed by the division of the cytoplasm. The final stage of this division, telophase, sees the formation of new nuclei around each set of daughter chromosomes, leading to the creation of two distinct daughter cells.23

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angiosperm
Vegetative structures
…one of the two resulting daughter cells remains in the meristem as an initial cell, and the other cell is displaced into the plant body as a derivative cell. The displaced derivative cell may divide several times as it differentiates (changes in structure and physiology) from a meristemic cell into…
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…one of the two resulting daughter cells remains in the meristem as an initial cell, and the other cell is displaced into the plant body as a derivative cell. The displaced derivative cell may divide several times as it differentiates (changes in structure and physiology) from a meristemic cell into…
Read More

fungus
Asexual reproduction
…division and splits into two daughter cells; after some growth, these cells divide, and eventually a population of cells forms. In filamentous fungi the mycelium may fragment into a number of segments, each of which is capable of growing into a new individual. In the laboratory, fungi are commonly propagated…
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…division and splits into two daughter cells; after some growth, these cells divide, and eventually a population of cells forms. In filamentous fungi the mycelium may fragment into a number of segments, each of which is capable of growing into a new individual. In the laboratory, fungi are commonly propagated…
Read More

pregnancy
Initiation of pregnancy
…called, divides into two equal-sized daughter cells. The mitotic division gives each daughter cell 44 autosomes, half of which are of maternal and half of paternal origin. Each daughter cell also has either two X chromosomes, making the new individual a female, or an X and a Y chromosome, making…
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…called, divides into two equal-sized daughter cells. The mitotic division gives each daughter cell 44 autosomes, half of which are of maternal and half of paternal origin. Each daughter cell also has either two X chromosomes, making the new individual a female, or an X and a Y chromosome, making…
Read More