The term homolysis generally means breakdown (''lysis'') to equal pieces (''homo'' = same). There are separate meanings for the word in chemistry and biology: *

Homolysis (biology) Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells. Cell division usually occurs as part of a larger cell cycle in which the cell grows and replicates its chromosome(s) before dividing. In eukaryotes, there are ...

, the fact that the dividing cell gives two equal-size daughter cells *

Homolysis (chemistry) In chemistry, homolysis () or homolytic fission is the dissociation of a molecular bond by a process where each of the fragments (an atom or molecule) retains one of the originally bonded electrons. During homolytic fission of a neutral molecule ...

, a chemical bond dissociation of a neutral molecule generating two free radicals

See also