Cell division is the process by which one cell splits into two new cellsCells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Think of them like tiny rooms that make up a much larger house—your body! Examples of cells: • Animal cells: These make up animals like you, cats, and birds. • Plant… Read More. This is how our bodies grow, replace old cells, and heal injuries.

Normal cells go through a carefully controlled cycle of growth and division.
CancerImagine your body as a well-organized society, where each cell plays a specific role. Cancer disrupts this harmony, as a group of cells goes rogue, breaking the rules of normal growth and function. These renegade cells multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors… Read More: Division Out of Control

Cancer cells are essentially normal cells that have lost the ability to control their division. They divide too often and too quickly, forming clumps of cells called tumors.

The word “Division”:

Latin Root: The word “division” comes from the Latin word “dividere,” which means “to divide” or “to separate.”

Literal Meaning in Cell Division When a cell divides, the cell’s contents are literally divided between two new “daughter” cells. This includes the cell’s DNADNA, short for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is like the secret instruction manual inside every living cell. It contains all the genetic information needed to build and maintain an organism, including humans! Imagine DNA as a complex cookbook with recipes for all… Read More (genetic instructions), which is copied before the split.

Why It Matters for Cancer

The uncontrolled, rapid division of cancer cells is a fundamental characteristic of the disease. That’s why many cancer treatments, like chemotherapyChemotherapy (often shortened to “chemo”) is a type of cancer treatment that uses powerful medicine to destroy cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing down the growth of fast-dividing cells, and cancer cells happen to grow and divide much… Read More, focus on trying to stop or slow down this abnormalWhat does “abnormally” mean?”Abnormally” means something is different from what’s usual, regular, or expected. It’s like something is out of the ordinary. Imagine you have a line of evenly spaced trees. If one tree is much taller or shorter than… Read More cell division.