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The surface membrane of an animal cell is proposed to be the target for regulation of cell division. It undergoes regular periodic changes during the cell division cycle. Interference with these changes by cell-cell surface contacts is proposed to prevent the normal progression of events, and thereby can change the metabolic pattern so as to put the cells into a resting state. Through external influences, cells can escape from this resting state; when this occurs surface changes are the earliest ones observed. Cells that have become malignant, particularly after virus infection, show marked changes in their surface properties. Infection is proposed to prevent the surface changes that lead to the resting state. Recent evidence from in vitro experiments is summarized, and some speculations are made on the connection between the surface and processes of division such as nuclear replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]