2.1.6 Cell Division, Cell Diversity and Cellular Organisation Flashcards
What are the three main phases of the cell cycle?
- Interphase
- Nuclear division
- Cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis)
What happens in the G1 phase?
- Growth
- Proteins and organelles are made
What happens in the S phase?
- Replication of DNA (synthesis)
What happens in the G2 phase?
- Organelles made
- Energy stores increased
- DNA is checked for errors
What does a checkpoint do?
Verify that the previous part of the cell cycle has been completed
e.g. G1, G2, spindle assembley
What is the G1 checkpoint?
- Between G1 and S phases
- Checks for cell size, nutrients, growth factors and DNA damage
What is the G2 checkpoint?
- Between G2 and nuclear division phases
- Checks for cell size, DNA replication and DNA damage
What is the spindle assembly (metaphase) checkpoint?
- At metaphase
- Checks that chromosomes are aligned and attached to spindles at the centromeres
What is G0?
- When a cell leaves the cell cycle
- Happens when checkpoints aren’t satisfied
Why does a cell enter G0?
Differentiation:
- Cell becomes specialised
- Performs this function indefinitely
Damaged DNA:
- Can no longer replicate (senescent)
Age:
- The older you are, the more senescent cells you have
- Linked with cancer and arthritis
What is cancer and how is it caused?
- Caused by mutation of genes that regulate the cell cycle
- Uncontrolled growth of cells
- Forms a tumour
How can cancer be treated?
- Prevent DNA replicating or inhibit metaphase (interfere with spindle fibres)
- Can be done using cisplastin or vinca alkaloids
- Treating cancer also affects normal cells and can cause hair loss
What are the stages of mitosis?
- Interphase
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
What happens in interphase?
- Chromosomes are invisible prior to mitosis
- Long and thin
What happens in prophase?
- Chromosomes condense and become visible
- Nuclear envelope and nucleolus disappear
- Centrioles move to the opposite ends of the cell
- Spindle fibres attach to centromeres and start to move chromosomes to the equator