Chromosomes And Mitosis Flashcards
Define Mitosis
It’s the part of the cell cycle that involves the division of eukaryotic cells– eventually producing 2 daughter cells genetically identical to the parent cell
What is a chromosome?
Coiled up lengths of DNA. Normally, body cells have two copies of each.
Define DNA. What does DNA do?
Deoxyribonucleic acid. It’s a material inside of nuclei that contains genetic information about living beings and stores that in the form of chromosomes
Chromosomes contain a large number of genes. What are genes?
Genes are the basic unit of genetic material inherited from parents/ section of DNA codes for proteins. Different genes control development of different characteristics
What is the cell cycle
A series of events that cells have to go through as they grow and develop. These are the interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis. They go through this to divide and produce new cells
Give three reasons why mitosis occurs
Asexual reproduction
Tissue growth
Tissue repair (replacement of damaged tissues)
What happens during the interphase?
– DNA spread out in long strings
– produce new sub cellular organelles/structure such as ribosomes and mitochondria
– duplicate DNA so there’s one copy for each new cell. They’re copied in the form of a X shaped chromosome
What happened during the prophase and metaphase?
Prophase: DNA condenses, chromosomes become visible, nucleic membrane breaks down
Metaphase: Meta means middle, the chromosomes get pulled to the equator of the cell and line up in the centre
What happens in the anaphase and telophase?
Ana means away. Anaphase: cell fibres spirit chromosomes down the centre and pull an even number/a copy of each to opposite poles of the cell
Telo means end. Telophase: new nucleic me membranes form around the chromosomes at either ends of the cell. This forms 2 separate, new nuclei
What is cytokinesis?
When the cell cytoplasm and cell membrane divide to produce two daughter cells identical to each other and to the parent cell
