Daughter Cells - GCSE Biology Definition

Daughter cells are the new cells that form when a single cell divides during a process called mitosis or meiosis, which is how cells reproduce and grow. In mitosis, a normal body cell divides to produce two daughter cells that are identical to each other and to the parent cell, meaning they have the same number of chromosomes. This is important for growth, repair, and replacing old cells within an organism. In meiosis, which creates sex cells like sperm and eggs, the parent cell divides to produce four daughter cells that have half the number of chromosomes, which is essential for sexual reproduction. Understanding daughter cells helps explain how organisms grow, heal, and reproduce.