Chapter 2 - Cell Cycle, Mitosis/Meiosis Flashcards
Which phases of the cell cycle are part of interphase?
G1, S, and G2?
The cell spends 90% of its time in what phase?
Interphase
What is the purpose of the G0 phase (which is not part of the cell cycle)?
This is known as the quiescence phase where cells withdraw from the cell cycle and are not involved in division. The cells here simply live and carry out their functions without worrying about dividing.
What occurs during the G1 phase?
This is the longest phase, cells are growing/increasing their size and they are producing/dulicating more organelles.
What occurs during the S-phase?
This face is characterized by replication of DNA, that is the sister chromatids get duplicated. Now each chromosome has two sister chromatids instead of one bound by a centromere.
What occurs during the G2 phase?
The cell grows more, prepares for mitosis by making microtubules and going through more cell cycle checkpoints to ensure that the correct amount of DNA and organelles are present.
What are the main cell cycle checkpoints?
G1/S, Intra-S, G2/M, and Spindle Assembly Checkpoint
What is the G1/S checkpoint?
P53 the main protein in charge of this checkpoint, checks for DNA damage and if the cell has enough nutrients
What is the intra-S checkpoint?
It is a checkpoint during DNA replication that checks if the DNA is replicated correctly and there is no damage.
What is the G2/M checkpoint?
Makes sure that the cell has reached an adequate size and the organelles have been properly replicated.
What is the spindle assembly checkpoint?
This checkpoint occurs during metaphase of mitosis/meiosis and ensures that the kinetochore has attached properly to the microtubule
What are the proteins responsible for moving the cell along the different phases of the cycle?
The proteins responsible are known as cyclin dependent kinases which are always present in our cells and cyclins which are only present at certain times of the cell cycle, picking and dropping off. In the presence of cyclins, CDKs are activated which allow driving the cell cycle forward.
What is mitosis?
It is the process by which two identical daughter cells are created from a single cell. Occurs in somatic cells only. Creation of 2 diploid cells.
What happens during prophase?
- Condensation of chromosomes
- Centrioles move towards opposite sides of the pole
- Nuclear membrane dissolves and nucleoi disappear.
- Kinetochores assemble on the centromeres in the chromosome.
- Centrioles begin to form the mitotic spindle
What are kinetochores?
They are a special proteinaceous structure that builds on the centromere part of the chromosome. It is composed of over 45 proteins that make up an inner and outer plate. The kinetochore is the site to where the microtubules attach.
What are centromeres?
They are part of the actual chromosome, made of heterochromatin and repetitive DNA sequences. The centromere is where the kinetochore builds on.
What happens during metaphase?
This is characterized by the alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate. The chromosomes have to be attached to microtubules from both poles. There is a spindle checkpoint during metaphase which makes sure that the chromosomes are separated properly.
What happens during anaphase?
The centromeres split, allowing the sister chromatids to separate.
What happens during telophase?
The spindle apparatus disappears, a nuclear membrane reforms around each set of chromosomes, and the nucleoli reappear. The chromosomes uncoil, resuming an uncondensed form.
What happens during cytokinesis?
The cleavage furrow forms by a band of actin filaments that keeps constricting. Eventually the cell divides into two, leaving each cell with a complete set of chromosomes and organelles.
What is meiosis?
What is the process of forming germ cells, resulting in 4 non-identical gametes.