B2 Cell Division Flashcards
How many chromosomes do human body cells have
46
How many chromosomes do gametes cells have
23
Chromosomes
Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules
Why are chromosomes normally found in pairs
Body cells have 2 copies of each chromosome one from organism’s mother and one from it’s father
What do chromosomes contain
Large number of genes which control development of different characteristics
Why do cells divide
To produce new cells
Mitosis
The stage of the cell cycle when the cell divides
What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for
To grow or replace cells that have been damaged
3 steps of cell cycle
Growth
DNA replication
Mitosis
What happens during growth and DNA replication
Cell grows and increases amount of subcellular structures such as mitochondria and ribosomes
It then duplicates DNA so there’s 1 copy for each new cell
DNA copied and forms X-shaped chromosome
What happens during mitosis
Chromosome lines up at centre of cell
Cell fibres pull them apart
Chromosomes go opposite ends of cell
Nuceleus divides
Cytoplasm and cell membrane divode
Now have 2 new daughter cells with exact same DNA
Why genetic material must be doubled during mitosis
It’s important that the daughter cells have a copy of every chromosome
Describe a situation where mitosis is occurring
Replacing skin cells
Gene
A section of DNA which controls part of a cell
Gamete
A reproductive cell of an animal or plant
Why mitosis is important for living organisms
Mitosis helps organisms grow in size and repair damages tissue
Differentiation
Process when a cell changes to become specialised for its job
What happens as cells change
They develop different subcellular structures and turn into different types of cells
This allows them to carry out specific functions
When does differentiation occur
As organism develops
In most animal cells when do animals lose their abilities to differentiate
Lost at an early stage