Important contribution to understanding the essence of cell
division are the classical investigations of Flemming (1882 a, b) and
van Beneden (1883 a, b) already mentioned in Chapter 2, Section 2.
5. These studies shed light on the fusion of nuclei of sexual cells in
animal organisms and the behaviour of chromosomes in the process of
division, leading to the formation of two daughter cells (Figs. 3–4 and 3–
5). Gradually the idea arises that cell division is the only way of
forming new cells. The leading part in this process is assigned to the
nucleus. This problem will be considered again in the next Section 3. 3.
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Figure 3–3. Division of cells (erythrocytes) of chicken embryos (After Remak, 1858; From Katznelson, 1963).
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