Mitosis Flashcards
What is mitosis?
Mitosis is the process of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell.
What happens in Prophase
Chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, spindle fibres begin to form, and the nuclear envelope starts to break down.
What are the 5 stages of mitosis?
Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase
What happens in Prometaphase
The nuclear envelope completely dissolves, spindle fibres attach to kinetochores, and chromosomes start moving towards the metaphase plate.
What happens during metaphase?
Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate, with spindle fibres fully attached to the centromeres.
What happens during anaphase?
Sister chromatids are pulled apart toward opposite poles by shortening spindle fibres.
What happens during telophase?
Nuclear envelopes reform around each set of chromosomes, and chromosomes start decondensing back into chromatin.
What is cytokinesis, and when does it occur?
Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm, usually occurring alongside or just after telophase (end of mitosis), resulting in two daughter cells
What is the role of the kinetochore? (Mitosis)
It is a protein structure on the centromere where spindle fibres attach during prometaphase and metaphase.
What is the function of spindle fibres in mitosis?
They help separate sister chromatids by pulling them to opposite poles.
Why is mitosis important?
It enables growth, repair, and asexual reproduction by producing genetically identical cells.
Stages of Interphase
G1 phase (cell growth), S phase (DNA replication), and G2 phase (preparation for mitosis).
What happens during interphase?
The cell grows, carries out normal functions, and duplicates its DNA in preparation for mitosis.
Why is the S phase important? (Interphase)
The S phase (synthesis phase) ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the DNA.
How is interphase different from mitosis?
Interphase is a period of growth and preparation, while mitosis is the actual process of cell division.
What happens during the G1 phase?
The cell grows, produces proteins, and carries out normal metabolic functions.
This ensures the cell has enough energy and resources to duplicate DNA in the next phase (S phase).
What happens during the G2 phase?
The cell continues to grow, synthesizes proteins for mitosis, and prepares for cell division. It ensures that DNA replication was successful and that the cell is ready for mitosis.
What does the term diploid mean?
A cell with two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent (2n)
What does the term haploid mean?
A cell with only one set of chromosomes (n)
When chromosomes all replicate in human, we go from 46 chromosomes too–
46 chromosomes. (Since sister chromatids form on other side of centromeres)
Now 92 Chromatids, not 92 chromosomes though
PP-MAT is way to remember
Stages of mitosis
(Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase)
