A form of cell division in which the nucleus divides directly without the formation of a spindle apparatus or visible chromosomes.
From Greek 'a-' (without) + 'mitos' (thread) + '-osis' (process), literally meaning 'without thread.' The term was coined in the 19th century when biologists observed cells dividing in ways that seemed to lack the organized mechanism of mitosis.
Early biologists thought amitosis was a major form of cell division, but it turned out to be mostly an artifact of poor microscopy or a sign of cell death—it's a reminder that what scientists observe depends heavily on their tools.
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