Cell Cycle

Question 1

What does Colchicine do?

Answer 1

Binds to tubulin (a component of microtubules) and prevents seperation of the chromatids.

Question 2

What does the prevention of the seperation of chromatids do?

Answer 2

Prevents cells from progressing into anaphase, accumulating in metaphase.

Question 3

Formula for calculating the length of the cell cycle

Answer 3

Length of Cell Cycle= 100%/A (% metaphase after colchicine) - B (% metaphase before colchicine) x H (hours)

Question 4

Formula for the duration of a phase

Answer 4

duration of ‘phase’ = length of cell cycle x % of cells in ‘phase’ in untreated cells / 100