cell division Flashcards
How many pairs of chromosomes does a normal human have?
23
What does a gene do?
Code for a characteristic
For what 3 reasons does mitosis occur?
Growth, repair and asexual reproduction
What occurs during the G1 phase of the cell cycle?
- Proteins are synthesised 2. ATP is produced 3. Key organelles (including centrioles) grow larger, then duplicate
What is the G1 checkpoint known as in animals?
The restriction point
What is the G1 checkpoint known as in yeast?
START
Why is the G1 checkpoint important?
The cell must be checked to make sure that it is ready for division, as once the chromosomes are duplicated the process cannot be reversed
What factors are checked at the G1 checkpoint?
- Nutrients- are the necessary nutrients present in the cell and its environment 2. Size- is the cell large enough for division? 3. Molecular signals- Is the cell receiving positive cues (i.e. growth factors) from its neighbours? 4. Mechanical signals- Is the cell attached to a support/crowded by neighbours 5. DNA integrity- is any DNA damaged?
What happens if the cell is rejected at the G1 checkpoint?
It passes into a resting state called G0
What are some reasons for passing into G0?
Cell age/senescence, damage, lack of need for them to reproduce
Is G0 temporary or permanent?
It can be both
Which cells spend all of their existence in G0?
Neurons, although many cells spend much of their life in G0 performing functions
What else, apart from carrying out functions, can occur in G0?
Cell death
What happens if a cell passes the G1 checkpoint?
It passes into the S phase
What occurs during the S phase?
DNA is replicated in the nucleus
Each chromosome is duplicated in the nucleus
Which stages of the cell cycle make up interphase?
G1, S and G2
What occurs during the G2 phase of cell division?
cell continues to increase in size
The duplicated chromosomes are checked for damage, and repaired/replaced if possible and necessary
What is checked at the G2 checkpoint?
Cell size, DNA condition (integrity, i.e. is any damaged?, and replication, i.e. is it fully replicated?)
What happens if a problem is detected at the G2 checkpoint?
The cell will pause at the checkpoint to undergo repairs
What happens if any problem is fixed at the G2 checkpoint?
The cell re-enters the cell cycle, and proceeds with division as normal
What happens if damage found at the G2 checkpoint is irreparable, and why is this important?
The cell may undergo apoptosis, which is important in preventing cancer by stopping errors being passed to daughter cells
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
What happens if a cell passes the G2 checkpoint without any problems?
It proceeds to mitosis
How many chromatids is a chromosome made up of?
Either 1, or two genetically identical ones
What is a chromatid?
A strand of DNA
How many chromatids does each chromosome have during G1?
1 chromatid
How many chromatids does each chromosome have from S phase to the beginning of mitosis?
2
How do chromosomes condense?
The DNA (in the form of chromatin fibres) is supercoiled around histone proteins
What are the 4 stages of Mitosis?
Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase
What is a chromosome?
A strip of tighlly coiled DNA
What 6 things occur during Prophase in mitosis?
- Chromatin fibres begin to coil and condense to form chromosomes. 2. Nucleolus disappears 3. Nuclear envelope begins to break down, and fully disappears by the end of Prophase 4. Microtubules begin to form spindle fibres linking the poles of the cell 5. Centrioles migrate to opposite poles of the cell 6. Spindle fibres attach to centromeres, begin to move chromosomes to cell centre
What is a centromere?
The point on a chromosome onto which a spindle fibre attaches
What occurs in Metaphase in mitosis?
Chromosomes are moved by the spindle fibres to form a plane in the cell’s centre, called the Metaphase Plate, and are then held in position
What occurs in Anaphase in mitosis?
Centromeres holding pairs of chromatids together in chromosomes divide. Sister chromosomes separated and pulled to opposite poles of the cell by shortening spindle fibres