D2.1: Cell and Nuclear Division Flashcards
List implications of the idea that new cells are only produced from a pre-existing cell.
- we can trace the origin of all the cells in our body back to the first cell; zygote produced by the fertilisation of a sperm and egg
- origins of all cells can be traced back through billions of years of evolution to LUCA of all life on Earth
- There must have been a 1st cell that arose from non-living material
Define cytokinesis.
The physical division of a the cytoplasm and organelles of a cell into 2 daughter cells
State the difference between mitosis and cytokinesis.
Mitosis: division of the nucleus and DNA into 2 daughter cells
Cytokinesis: division of the cytoplasm and organelles into 2 daughter cells
Mitosis and cytokinesis can occur at the same time
Explain cytokinesis in plant cells
- Golgi buds off vesicles that move towards the cell equator
- Vesicles fuse creating a cell plate which extends until it fuses with the sides of the parent cell thus, separating the 2 new daughter cells
- Both daughter cells release cellulose by exocytosis into the space betw. the 2 membranes which builds the cell wall of each daughter cell
Explain cytokinesis in animal cells
- A network of actin and myosin proteins form a contractile ring at the cell equator that pinches the cell membrane together to form a cleavage furrow
- Cell membrane cleavage furrow pinches in until the cell splits into 2 daughter cells
Describe the formation of the cleavage furrow in animal cell cytokinesis.
A network of actin and myosin proteins form a contractile ring at the cell equator that pinches the cell membrane together to form a cleavage furrow
Describe the formation of the cell wall in plant cell cytokinesis.
Both daughter cells release cellulose by exocytosis into the space betw. the 2 membranes which builds the cell wall of each daughter cell
What does cytokinesis result in?
Results in equal division of the cytoplasm and organelles between the daughter cells to form 2 equal sized cells
State the reason why daughter cells must receive at least one mitochondria during cytokinesis.
Mitochondria undergo their own division to repopulate the new daughter cells
Outline unequal cytokinesis in yeast budding.
- Budding is an asymmetric division mechanism used by most yeasts to reproduce asexually
- The nucleus divides by mitosis then during the cytokinesis the daughter cell receives only a small portion of the cytoplasm
- Daughter cell initially remains attached to parent cell
- Cells are separated and the daughter cell matures into a new yeast cell
Outline unequal cytokinesis during human oogenesis.
- Oogenesis is the production of an egg cell
- Cytoplasm is divided unevenly during cytokinesis to produce 1 large egg cell and 3 small polar bodies
- A single large egg cell contains the cytoplasm of all 4 daughter cells
- The large vol. of cytoplasm in the egg cell is used to provide all the organelles and stores energy to sustain the developing embryo
What is mitosis and what does it produce
- nuclear division resulting in continuity of the chromosome number and genome. Produces:
- 2 identical daughter cells
- A full set of genetic material
- organelles
Define histone
Protein around which eukaryotic DNA is wrapped
Define nucleosome
The structure that results from DNA wrapping around histone proteins
Define chromatin
A collection of loose nucleosomes; DNA is present in its chromatin form during interphase
What is meiosis?
nuclear division that results in the reduction of the chromosome number and diversity between genomes.
Outline the cause and consequence of anucleate cells.
Cause:
- Loss of nucleus occurs during maturation
Consequence:
- Loss of nucleus means loss of ability to reproduce and therefore, die
- More space to carry hemoglobin therefore carrying more O2. (RBC Only)
- gives biconcave shape (RBC Only)
(E.g: RBC)
What process occurs before both mitosis and meiosis?
DNA replication occurs before both mitosis and meiosis.
in mitosis, when is the nuclear membrane not present
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
When does DNA replication take place?
DNA replication occurs in the S-phase of interphase.
Explain how replicated DNA molecules are held together, with reference to chromatid, replicated chromosome, centromere and cohesin.
At the centromere, located in the DNA it:
- adheres sister chromatids to one another
- it’s the site of kinetochore and microtubule attachment for movement of chromosomes
Protein complex cohesin, established in interphase before mitosis and meiosis:
- Holds sister chromatids together until anaphase
Cohesin holding the chromatids are removed by the start of anaphase and are able to move to opposite poles of the cell ensuring each daughter cell will have a complete copy of the genetic material
Explain how and why chromosomes condense during mitosis and meiosis.
How:
- Mitosis: During prophase, Chromatin condenses into chromosomes each consisting of sister chromatids without the chromosomes pairing up
- Meiosis: During prophase I, Chromatin condenses into chromosomes each consisting of 2 sister chromatids. These homologous chromosomes pair up forming bivalents. Then, crossing over occurs between the non-sister chromatids (one of the chromatids of each chromosome are non-sister chromatids), forming recombinant chromosomes.
BOTH CONTAIN SISTER CHROMATIDS BUT IN MITOSIS, THEY DON’T PAIR UP
Why:
- to facilitate accurate segregation of genetic material.
State the role of microtubules and kinetochore motor proteins.
(mitotic spindle microtubules) Microtubules:
- Long and thin cylindrical fibrous proteins that form the spindle apparatus during cell division
Kinetochore motor proteins (like Kinesin):
- The kinetochores link the chromatids to the microtubules thus, pulling the chromosomes toward the poles during anaphase
State the names of the four phases of mitosis.
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
Draw typical eukaryotic cells as they would appear during the interphase and the four phases of mitosis.
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Outline four events that occur during prophase in mitosis
- Chromatin condenses into homologous chromosomes whilst remaining unpaired
- Nuclear envelop begins dissolving
- Centrosomes move towards the opposite ends of the poles thus, establishing the poles of the mitotic spindle
- Microtubules, aka spindle fibers, begin growing from the centromeres at the poles of the cell
Outline the process of metaphase, inclusive of the role of microtubules and the kinetochore, in mitosis
- Microtubules attach to the kinetochore of each chromatid and attach to opposite poles.
- Cohesin loops still attach the chromatids
- Chromosomes line up across the metaphase plate and are equidistant from the 2 poles
Outline the process of anaphase in mitosis
- Chromatids separate as Cohesin loops get cut and become separate chromosomes
- Microtubules link each chromosome to the pol
- Chromosomes move towards opposite poles of the cell due to spindle fibres shortening
Outline four events that occur during telophase in mitosis (complete opposite of prophase in mitosis)
- Two diploid nuclei form.
- Chromosomes decondense; chromosomes uncoil back into chromatin
- Spindle fibres disintegrate
- Cell elongates in preparation for cytokinesis
What can result from mitosis occurring when it shouldn’t? What regulates the progression through the phases of mitosis?
- Cancer
- Proteins called cyclins regulate the progression through the phases of mitosis
Determine the phase of mitosis of a cell viewed in a diagram, micrograph or with a microscope.
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Explain the need for meiosis as part of a sexual life cycle.
Meiosis must occur at some stage in a sexual life cycle to avoid increases in the chromosome number
Explain what it means for chromosomes to be “homologous.”
Alleles can be reshuffled during meiosis to produce new combinations and together with gene mutations
Define diploid.
- indicated by 2n
- A nucleus, cell or organism with 2 sets of chromosomes and therefore, homologous pairs of chromosomes
State the human cell diploid number.
46 chromosomes
State an advantage of being diploid.
- Contains the normal number of chromosomes
Define haploid.
- indicated by n
- A nucleus, cell or organism with a single set of chromosomes which are all non-homologous
State the human cell haploid number.
23 chromosomes
List example haploid cells.
sperm and egg cells
Given a diploid number (for example 2n=4), outline the movement and structure of DNA through the stages of meiosis I.
Meiosis I: The first meiotic division is a reduction division (diploid → haploid) in which homologous chromosomes are separated.
- Prophase I: Chromatin condenses into chromosomes by supercoiling. Homologous chromosomes pair up (synapsis) and crossing over occurs resulting in recombinant chromosomes (a tetrad or bivalent)
- Metaphase I: Microtubules from the 2 poles link to different homologous chromosomes in each pair. Homologous chromosome pairs line up across the cell equator by random orientation
- Anaphase I: Homologous chromosomes get separated and get pulled towards the opposite poles of the cell due to spindle fibres shortening
- Telophase I: Two haploid nuclei form and both prepare for the 2nd phase of meiosis
Given a diploid number (for example 2n=4), outline the movement and structure of DNA through the stages of meiosis II.
Meiosis II: The second division is a non-reductionist division (haploid → diploid) in which chromosomes are formed.
- Prophase II: chromosomes begin to condense.
- Metaphase II: The individual chromosomes align at the metaphase plate by random orientation.
- Anaphase II: Identical sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.
- Telophase II: two more haploid nuclei form and thus, 4 haploid nuclei form in total.
Explain why meiosis I is a reductive division.
- RD prevents the number of chromosomes from doubling with each generation in a species as gametes must be haploid.
- The chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid which counteracts the doubling effect of the male and female gametes fusing
Are the cells diploid or haploid at the end of meiosis I
the 2 cells are haploid at the end of meiosis I
Compare meiosis II with mitosis
In both, sister chromatids separate and move to different poles during anapahse
In both, no crossing over occurs during prophase
- Meiosis II: haploid cell in metaphase II, creates gametes
- Mitosis: diploid cell in metaphase, creates daughter cells
Compare divisions of meiosis I and meiosis II.
Divisions in Meiosis I:
- Reductive division (diploid to haploid)
- Results in two haploid cells
- Chromosomes remain duplicated
- Crossing over occurs
- Proceeding by interphase with DNA replication
Divisions in Meiosis II
- Non-reductive division (haploid to diploid)
- Results in four haploid cells
- Chromatids of a chromosomes separate
- No crossing over occurs
- Proceeding by interkinesis, without DNA replication