Mitosis

Question 1

What are three purposes of mitosis in life cycles?

Answer 1

Asexual reproduction; growth; tissue repair; replacement of cells

Question 2

What are the main events of prophase?

Answer 2

Nuclear envelope breaks down; chromatin condenses (DNA supercoils); nucleolus disappears; spindle fibres start to form from centrioles

Question 3

What are the main events of metaphase?

Answer 3

Chromosomes line up along equator (metaphase plate); spindle fibres attach through centromeres

Question 4

What are the main events of anaphase?

Answer 4

Sister chromatids pulled to opposite poles of the cell by shortening tubulin spindle fibres

Question 5

What are the main events of telophase?

Answer 5

Nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes; chromatin relaxes; nucleolus reappears

Question 6

How does cytokinesis differ between dividing animal cells and plant cells?

Answer 6

Animal cells - cleavage furrow forms and plasma membrane is pulled inwards, splitting the cytoplasm; plant cells - vesicles assemble around metaphase plate and fuse; new plasma membrane and cellulose cell wall are laid down