Module 2: cell division, cell diversity + organisation. Flashcards
What is the cell cycle?
It is the process that all body cells in multicellular organisms use to grow and divide.
It starts when a cell has been produced by cell division and ends with the cell dividing to produce two identical cells.
What does interphase consist of?
Interphase: It is made up of three growth phases called G1 phase, S phase and G2 phase.
What happens in GAP PAHSE 1 and its checkpoint?
GAP PHASE 1: The cell grows and new organelles and proteins are made.
G1 checkpoint: The cell checks that the chemicals needed for replication are present and for any damage to the DNA before entering S-phase.
What happens at the SYNTHESIS stage? (S)
The cell replicates its DNA and is ready to divide by mitosis.
What happens at the GAP PHASE 2 and its checkpoint?
GAP PHASE 2: The cell keeps growing and proteins needed for cell division are made.
G2 Checkpoint: The cell checks whether all the DNA has been replicated without any damage. If it has, The cell can enter mitosis.
What happens in M phase?
This consists of Mitosis and Cytokinesis.
Mitosis: is a type of cell division where cells produce identical copies of themselves and is used for growth and repair and asexual reproduction.
Cytokinesis: it is the final step of mitosis, where the cell will completely divide in two identical daughter cells as the cytoplasm + cell membrane separates.
What is the structure of chromosomes in Mitosis?
As mitosis begins, the chromosomes are made of two strands joined in the middle by a centromere.
The separate strands are called Chromatids.
Two strands on the same chromosome are called sister chromatids.
There are two strands because each chromosome has already made an identical copy of itself during interphase. When mitosis is over, the chromatids end up as one-strand chromosomes in the new daughter cells.
What are the stages of Mitosis called?
1) Prophase
2) Metaphase
3) Anaphase
4) Telophase
Explain what happens in Prophase.
The chromosomes condense (they become shorter and fatter)
The centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell and form spindle fibres.
The nuclear envelope breaks down and the chromosomes lie free in the cytoplasm.
Explain what happens in Metaphase.
The chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell.
They attach to the spindle fibre by their centromere.
At the metaphase checkpoint, the cell checks that all the chromosomes are attached to the spindle before mitosis can continue.
Explain what happens in Anaphase.
The centromere divides, separating each pair of sister chromatids.
The spindles contract and the sister chromatids are pulled to opposite poles of the cell - centromere first.
Explain what happens in Telophase.
The chromatids reach the opposite poles on the spindle.
The two groups of chromosomes decondense (they become long and thin) and a nuclear envelope reforms around them, forming two new nuclei.
Explains what happens in cytokinesis.
The cytoplasm divides.
In animal cells, a cleavage furrow forms to divide the cell membrane.
There are now two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the original cell and to each other.
Usually begins in anaphase and ends with telophase and it is a separate process to mitosis.
Describe the practical investigating mitosis in squashed root tips.
Cut a thin section of tissue from the tip of a growing root.
Pipette a set volume of 1M hydrochloric acid into a boiling tube and place in a 60oC water bath.
Place the plant tissue in the boiling tube and leave for five minutes.
Rinse the root tip with cold water and dry using a paper towel.
Cut the root tip so that you have a thin layer of cells (about 2 mm) and spread out onto a microscope slide using a mounted needle.
Add a drop of Toluidine blue O stain to the tissue and place a cover slip on top. Push down on the cover slip to squash the cells and allow light to pass through. Be careful not to push sideways otherwise the chromosomes will become damaged.
Use a light microscope to visualise the cells and identify the stages of mitosis. Any cells with visible chromosomes will be undergoing mitosis (as the chromosomes are condensed).
What are gametes?
Gametes are sex cells (the sperm and egg in humans).
What is sexual reproduction?
This is when two gametes (
sperm/egg cell) join together at fertilisation to form a zygote, which divides and develops into a new organism.
What does haploid and diploid mean?
Gametes are haploid which means they contain half the number of chromosomes as the rest of the cells which make up our body.
This means that when two gametes fuse during sexual reproduction, the fertilised egg (called a zygote) contains the full number of chromosomes i.e. it is diploid.
In humans, the diploid number of chromosomes is 46 (23 pairs), which means that gametes contain just 23 chromosomes.
During sexual reproduction, the nucleus of the sperm cell fuses with the nucleus of the egg cell - this fusion of nuclei is called fertilisation.
This forms a Diploid zygote which continues to divide to form an embryo
What is Meiosis?
It is a type of cell division that happens in the reproductive organs to produce gametes for sexual reproduction.
Cells that divide by meiosis are diploid to start with, but the cells that are formed from meiosis are haploid- the chromosomes number halves.
Cells formed by meiosis are all genetically different because each new cell ends up with a different combination of chromosomes.
How much divisions does meiosis have?
It involves 2 divisions- meiosis 1 and meiosis 2.
After interphase, the cells enter meiosis 1.
What happens in Interphase before Meiosis 1?
The whole of meiosis begins with interphase.
During interphase, the cells DNA unravels and replicates to produce double-armed chromosomes called sister chromatids.
What are the stages of Meiosis 1?
Prophase 1
Metaphase 1
Anaphase 1
Telophase 1
What happens in Prophase 1?
The chromosomes condense getting shorter and fatter.
Homologous chromosomes pair up and crossing over occurs.
The centrioles start moving to opposite ends of the cell, forming the spindle fibres.
The nuclear envelope, the membrane around the nucleus, starts to break down.
What happens in Metaphase 1?
The homologous pairs line up across the centre of the cell (equator) and attach to the spindle fibres by their centromeres.