Cell Division and Cellular Organisation Flashcards
State what the cell cycle is and outline its stages.
Regulated cycle of division with intermediate growth periods.
- interphase
- mitosis or meiosis (nuclear division)
- cytokinesis (cytoplasmic division)
Outline what happens during interphase.
G1: cell synthesises proteins for replication e.g. tubulin for spindle fibres & cell size doubles.
S: DNA replicates = chromosomes consist of 2 sister chromatids joined at a centromere.
G2: Organelles divide.
What is the purpose of mitosis?
Produces 2 genetically identical daughter cells for:
● growth
● cell replacement/ tissue repair ● asexual reproduction
Name the stages of mitosis.
Name the stages of mitosis.
1. Prophase 2. Metaphase 3. Anaphase 4. Telophase
Outline what happens during prophase.
- Chromosomes condense, becoming visible. (X-shaped: 2 sister chromatids joined at centromere).
- Centrioles move to opposite poles of cell (animal cells) & mitotic spindle fibres form.
- Nuclear envelope & nucleolus break down = chromosomes free in cytoplasm.
Outline what happens during metaphase.
Sister chromatids line up at cell equator, attached to the mitotic spindle by their centromeres.
Outline what happens during anaphase.
Requires energy from ATP hydrolysis
1. Spindle fibres contract = centromeres divide.
2. Sister chromatids separate into 2 distinct
chromosomes & are pulled to opposite poles of
cell. (looks like ‘V’ shapes facing each other).
3. Spindle fibres break down.
Outline what happens during telophase.
- Chromosomes decondense, becoming invisible again.
2. New nuclear envelopes form around each set of chromosomes = 2 new nuclei, each with 1 copy of each chromosome.
What happens during cytokinesis?
- Cell membrane cleavage furrow forms. 2. Contractile division of cytoplasm.
How is the cell cycle regulated?
Checkpoints regulated by cell-signalling proteins ensure damaged cells do not progress to next stage of cycle.
Cyclin-dependent kinase enzymes phosphorylate proteins that initiate next phase of reactions.
Describe what happens at each key checkpoint in the cell cycle.
Between G1 & S, cell checks for DNA damage (e.g. via action of p53). After restriction point, cell enters cycle.
Between G2 & M, cell checks chromosome replication.
At metaphase checkpoint, cell checks that sister chromatids have attached to spindle correctly.
What is meiosis?
A form of cell division that produces four genetically different haploid cells (cells with half the number of chromosomes found in the parent cell) known as gametes.
What happens during meiosis I?
- Homologous chromosomes pair to form bivalents.
- Crossing over (exchange of sections of genetic
material) occurs at chiasmata. - Cell divides into two. Homologous chromosomes
separate randomly. Each cell contains either maternal or paternal copy.
What are homologous chromosomes?
Pair of chromosomes with genes at the same locus. 1 maternal & 1 paternal. Some alleles may be the same while others are different.
What happens during meiosis II?
- Independent segregation of sister chromatids.
2. Each cell divides again, producing 4 haploid cells.