10.2 Mitosis

Question 1

How does a cell look in prophase?

Answer 1

Chromosomes condense and become visible, nuclear envelope begins to break down

Chromosomes are duplicated and appear as sister chromatids.

Question 2

How does a cell look in metaphase?

Answer 2

Chromosomes align at the cell’s equatorial plane

Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes.

Question 3

How does a cell look in anaphase?

Answer 3

Sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell

This ensures that each daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes.

Question 4

How does a cell look in telophase/cytokinesis?

Answer 4

Chromatids reach the poles, nuclear envelopes reform around each set of chromosomes

Cytoplasm divides, resulting in two separate daughter cells

Chromosomes begin to de-condense back into chromatin.

Question 5

Define multipotent stem cells.

Answer 5

Stem cells that can differentiate into a limited range of cell types

Example: Hematopoietic stem cells can become various types of blood cells.

Question 6

Define pluripotent stem cells.

Answer 6

Stem cells that can differentiate into almost any cell type

Example: Embryonic stem cells can develop into any of the three germ layers.

Question 7

Define induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Answer 7

Adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state

iPSCs can potentially differentiate into any cell type, similar to embryonic stem cells.

Question 8

What causes specialized cells to be different from each other?

Answer 8

Differential gene expression

Different genes are activated or silenced in various cell types, leading to distinct functions.

Question 9

Compare the parent cell to the daughter cells after mitosis.

Answer 9

Daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cell

Each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.

Question 10

Explain how all body cells have the same genetic code but different functions.

Answer 10

Different genes are expressed in different cells, leading to varied functions

All cells contain the same DNA, but only specific genes are activated depending on the cell type.

Question 11

What is the role of transcription factors in cell differentiation?

Answer 11

Transcription factors regulate gene expression, leading to specialization

They activate or repress specific genes that determine a cell’s fate.