2.2.1

Mitosis

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Cell Division

Viruses require a host cell to divide. Cells that have the ability to divide have a cell cycle. The eukaryotic cell cycle is outlined here.

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The cell cycle

  • Cells on the path to cell division proceed through a series of precisely timed and carefully regulated stages of growth, DNA replication, and division.
    • This is called the cell cycle.
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Phases of the cell cycle

  • The cell cycle has two major phases: interphase and the mitotic phase.
    • During interphase, the cell grows and DNA is replicated.
    • During the mitotic phase, the replicated DNA and cytoplasmic contents are separated, and the cell divides.
  • There are two types of cell division in eukaryotes: mitosis and meiosis.
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Interphase

  • Interphase is subdivided into three growth stages called G1, S and G2 stage.
    • In G1, the cell grows.
    • In S, DNA synthesis happens.
    • In G2, the cell grows some more before the mitotic phases begins.
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The mitotic phase

  • Mitosis is the part of the cell cycle in which a eukaryotic cell divides to produce two daughter cells, each with the identical copies of DNA produced by the parent cell during DNA replication.
  • Multicellular organisms go through mitosis to grow and repair damaged tissues.

Stages of Mitosis

In mitosis, chromosomes go through prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Interphase happens just before mitosis.

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Interphase

  • The cell prepares to divide.
  • DNA is replicated by semi-conservative replication. There are now two copies of every chromosome.
  • The organelles are also replicated.
  • More ATP is produced to be used in cell division.
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Prophase

  • The nuclear envelope breaks down and the nucleolus disappears. Chromosomes are left floating in the cytoplasm.
  • The chromosomes coil more tightly and become shorter and fatter. They can be seen under a light microscope.
  • Small protein bundles called centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell.
  • Microtubules form the mitotic spindle between the centrioles.
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Metaphase

  • The chromosomes line up along the mid-line of the cell.
  • In metaphase, the chromosomes are maximally condensed.
  • They are attached to the spindle by the centromere.
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Anaphase

  • The chromosomes break into two chromatids. The sister chromatids separate at the centromere.
  • The spindles contract and pull the chromatids to each pole of the cell.
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Telophase

  • The chromatids reach the opposite poles and begin to decondense (unravel), becoming chromosomes again.
  • Nuclear envelopes form around the chromosomes so there are now two nuclei.
  • The cytoplasm splits and two daughter cells are formed. The daughter cells are identical to the original cell and to each other.
  • The cell cycle starts again.
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Way to remember the stages:

  • I (interphase).
  • Picked (prophase).
  • My (metaphase).
  • Apples (anaphase).
  • Today (telophase).

Jump to other topics

1Biological Molecules

2Cells

3Substance Exchange

4Genetic Information & Variation

5Energy Transfers (A2 only)

6Responding to Change (A2 only)

7Genetics & Ecosystems (A2 only)

8The Control of Gene Expression (A2 only)

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