Final answer:
Cell division is the process where a parent cell divides to produce two new daughter cells, necessary for an organism's growth and repair. The cell cycle details this process of growth and division in eukaryotic cells, and meiosis is a special type of division for producing gametes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cell division is the process of cell division where a parent cell divides into two new daughter cells. This is crucial for both growth and maintenance of an organism. In multicellular organisms, cell division allows an embryo to develop into a complex adult, and it continues to be important for repairing and regenerating tissues, such as producing new skin cells after a cut. While prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells differ in how they undergo cell division, the fundamental outcome is the same - the replacement of old and worn-out cells with new ones.
The regular cycle of cellular growth and division is known as the cell cycle, a concept fundamental to understanding how life proliferates and sustains itself. In the case of sexual reproduction in eukaryotic organisms, a specific type of cell division called meiosis is employed to create cells with half the genetic material, which are crucial for the production of gametes.