Chapter 6 - Cell Division Flashcards
Stages of the cell cycle
o interphase
o nuclear division (mitosis)
o cell division (cytokinesis)
Length of the cell cycle
variable depending on environmental conditions, the cell type and the organism
What is the movement from one phase to another triggered by
Chemical signals = cyclins
First phase
Interphase
What makes up interphase
o G1 phase
o S phase
o G2 phase
What happens in G1
o In this phase, at some point a signal is received telling the cell to divide again
o The gap between the previous cell division and the S phase is called the G1 phase
o Cells make the RNA, enzymes and other proteins required for growth during the G1 phase
What happens in S phase
o The S phase is relatively short
o The DNA in the nucleus replicates = resulting in each chromosome consisting of two identical sister chromatids
What happens in G2 phase
o the cell continues to grow and the new DNA is checked and any errors are usually repaired
o Other preparations for cell division are made = production of tubulin protein, which is used to make microtubules for the mitotic spindle
Where does cell growth stop
Mitosis
What is cytokineses
• Once the nucleus has divided, the whole cell divides + one nucleus moves into each cell to create two genetically identical daughter cells
• Animal cells = involves constriction of the cytoplasm between two nucleus
• Plant cells = new cell wall is formed
How is the cell cycle regulated
Checkpoints = • Specific proof-reading enzymes + repair enzymes are involved in this checking process
What happens if an error is identifies
enzymes will repair the error but in some cases the cell may destroy itself to prevent passing on harmful mutations
How many checkpoints
4
Where are the main checkpoints = detailed
- G1 phase - chromosomes are checked for damage.
o If damage is detected then the cell does not advance into the S phase until repairs have been made - S phase - chromosomes are checked to ensure they have been replicated.
o If all the chromosomes haven’t been successfully replicated then the cell cycle stops - G2 phase - an additional check for DNA damage occurs after the DNA has been replicated.
o The cell cycle will be delayed until any necessary repairs are made - During metaphase - the final check determines whether the chromosomes are correctly attached to the spindle fibres prior to anaphase
Where are the main checkpoints = numbers
G1
S
G2
Metaphase
Stages of mitosis
prophase + metaphase + anaphase + telophase
Define mitosis
• process of nuclear division by which two genetically identical daughter nuclei are produced that are also genetically identical to the parent cell nucleus
What happens in prophase
• Chromosomes condense and are now visible when stained
• chromosomes consist of two identical chromatids = sister chromatids (each containing one DNA molecule) that are joined together at the centromere
• The two centrosomes (replicated in the G2 phase just before prophase) move towards opposite poles (opposite ends of the nucleus)
• Spindle fibres (protein microtubules) begin to emerge from the centrosomes (consists of two centrioles in animal cells)
• The nuclear envelope (nuclear membrane) breaks down into small vesicles
• The nucleolus disappears
What happens in metaphase
• Centrosomes reach opposite poles
• Spindle fibres (protein microtubules) continue to extend from centrosomes
• Chromosomes line up at the equator of the spindle (the metaphase plate) so they are equidistant to the two centrosome poles
• Spindle fibres reach the chromosomes and attach to the centromeres
o attachment involves specific proteins = kinetochores
• Each sister chromatid is attached to a spindle fibre originating from opposite poles
What happens in anaphase
• The sister chromatids separate at the centromere = the centromere divides in two
• Spindle fibres begin to shorten
• The separated sister chromatids (now called chromosomes) are pulled to opposite poles by the spindle fibres (protein microtubules)
What happens in telophase
• Chromosomes arrive at opposite poles and begin to decondense
• Nuclear envelopes begin to reform around each set of chromosomes
• spindle fibres break down
• New nucleoli form within each nucleus
Where does growth in plant occur
Meristems
Where are meristems found
just behind the protective root cap
How can root tip meristems be studies for mitosis
using the squash technique (root tips are stained and then gently squashed, spreading the cells out into a thin sheet and allowing individual cells undergoing mitosis to be clearly seen)
Method to view mitosis in plants
Method
• Garlic or onion (Allium cepa) root tips are most commonly used (the bulbs can be encouraged to grow roots by suspending them over water for a week or two)
• Remove the tips of the roots (about 1cm) and place in a suitable stain (eg. warm, acidified acetic orcein, which stains chromosomes a deep purple)
• The stained root tip is gently squashed on a glass slideusing a blunt instrument (eg. the handle of a mounting needle)
• Cells undergoing mitosis are seen
What does prophase look like
- big blob mess
What does metaphase and anaphase look like
Metaphase = kinda see the chromosome lines
Anaphase = pulling apart
Limitations of method
• It can be very difficult to distinguish between prophase and telophase in cells
• The size of cells or structures of tissues may appear inconsistent in different specimen slides
• Optical microscopes do not have the same magnification power as other types of microscopes and so there are some structures that can not be seen
• The treatment of specimens when preparing slides could alter the structure of cells
If there are multiple nuclei in one cell what stage is it in
Telophase
Significance of mitosis
- growth
- replacement of damaged cells and repair of tissue
- asexual reproduction
How is mitosis important in growth
• The two daughter cells produced are genetically identical to one another (clones) and have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
• This enables unicellular zygotes (as the zygote divides by mitosis) to grow into multicellular organisms
• Growth may occur across the whole body of the organism or be confined to certain regions, such as in the meristems (growing points) of plants
How is mitosis important in replacement of cells and repair of tissue
• Damaged tissues can be repaired by mitosis followed by cell division
• As cells are constantly dying they need to be continually replaced by genetically identical cells
• In humans, for example, cell replacement occurs particularly rapidly in the skin and the lining of the gut
• Some animals can regenerate body parts, for example, zebrafish can regenerate fins and axolotls regenerate legs and their tail amongst other parts
How is mitosis important in asexual reproduction
• For unicellular organisms such as Amoeba, cell division results in the reproduction of a genetically identical offspring
• For multicellular organisms, new individuals grow from the parent organism (by cell division) and then detach (‘bud off’) from the parent in different ways
Define asexual reproduction
the production of new individuals of a species by a single parent organism – the offspring are genetically identical to the parent
Examples of organisms with asexual reproduction
Hydra and yeast and runners from strawberries
In S phase how is DNA copied
DNA sequences of high importance (genes that are active in all cells) are replicated first
Why is the S phase fast
Because DNA bases are exposed during replication thus more susceptible to mutagens
The quicker the s phase…
The lower chance of mutations occurring
Graph for mass of DNA at each stage
D
A
A
No DNA
224
17
Define meiosis
orm of nuclear division that results in the production of haploid cells from diploid cells - It produces gametes in plants and animals that are used in sexual reproduction
What happens in prophase 1
• DNA condenses = visible as chromosomes
• The chromosomes are arranged side by side in homologous pairs
• As the homologous chromosomes are very close together = crossing over of non sister chromatic = chiasma (chiasmata; plural)
• centrioles migrate to opposite poles
- spindle is formed
• nuclear envelope breaks down + nucleolus disintegrates
What does DNA look like in prophase 1
• DNA replication has already occurred so each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids joined together by a centromere
What is a bivalent
o A pair of homologous chromosomes
What happens in metaphase 1
bivalents line up along the equator of the spindle = spindle fibres attached to the centromeres
The maternal and paternal chromosomes in each pair position themselves independently of the others = independent assortment
What is independent assortment
maternal and paternal chromosomes in each pair position themselves independently of the others
What does independent assortment mean
that the proportion of paternal or maternal chromosomes that end up on each side of the equator is due to chance
What happens in anaphase 1
homologous pairs of chromosomes are separated = microtubules pull whole chromosomes to opposite ends of the spindle
• The centromeres do not divide
What happens in telophase 1
chromosomes arrive at opposite poles
• Spindle fibres start to break down
• Nuclear envelopes form around the two groups of chromosomes + nucleoli reform
What do some plant cells do that’s different to normal cels
• Some plant cells go straight into meiosis II without reformation of the nucleus in telophase I