Cells, the building blocks of the human body, contain genetic information (DNA) that is passed on from parent cell to daughter cell through the cell reproduction process called cell division. When a cell divides the genetic information contained in DNA copies itself and transmits to a daughter cell through a series of processes. There are two types of cells: eukaryotic and prokaryotic and these two cell types reproduce or divide in two main ways, either Mitosis or Meiosis. Cell division can also be broken down into two reproductive categories: asexual (Mitosis) and sexual (Meiosis). (Solomon et al 2002). .
Every cell contains DNA, which is in fact the vital information (genetic code) needed to construct and maneuver a human body. DNA is structured into units called genes. An eukaryotic cell nucleus contains a lot of DNA and protein that get together to form a chromosome. Therefore, the chromosome is the major carrier of genetic information. All species have different numbers of chromosomes and different types of genetic codes inside these chromosomes. Human beings usually have 46 different chromosomes; other species can have as little as 2 chromosomes or as many as 200. Most species contain between 10 and 50 chromosomes. (Solomon et al 2002). .
When cells reach maturity, they must either stop growing and remain as they are, or divide and reproduce themselves. Some cells like the nerve and muscle cells in the human body don't divide but stay the same as they reach maturity, this makes them rarer and more finite. Other cells divide when they reach maturity through the Mitosis or Meiosis types of cell division. The cells that do divide do so in what is called the cell cycle, the cycle of a cell life from one division to the next. A cell cycle from one division to the next is also called a generation as it is with human beings from one set of parents to the children. (Solomon et al 2002). .
Most cells both eukaryotic and prokaryotic divide through the Mitosis processes which is asexual.