How Cells Divide. Share By Rick Groleau Posted 10.09.01 NOVA Most of the time, when a cell in our bodies divides, each new cell carries a complete set of chromosomes. The cells involved with human reproduction, however, carry only half after division occurs. In this step-by-step explanation, learn about mitosis and meiosis, the two types of cell division. This feature originally appeared on the site for the NOVA program 18 Ways to Make a Baby. Background on Meiosis and Mitosis As viewed from a human perspective, nature seems to have done ingenious engineering to overcome obstacles. Asexual reproduction relies on a process called mitosis, in which the nucleus of a cell divides to create two new nuclei, each containing an identical copy of DNA. Meiosis, on the other hand, is the process by which certain sex cells are created. How exactly does meiosis halve and mix chromosomes?
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