Topic 2 - cells and control Flashcards
What happens during interphase?
Before mitosis, cell grows and increases subcelullar structures. It duplicates its DNA and DNA is copied and forms X-shaped chromosomes
What happens during prophase?
chromosomes condense, getting shorter and fatter. the membrane around the nucleus breaks down and the chromosomes lie free in the cytoplasm
What happens during metaphase?
The chromosomes line up at the centre of the cell
What happens during anaphase?
Cell fibres pull the chromosomes apart. The two arms of each chromosome go to opposite ends of the cell
What happens during telophase?
Membranes form around each of the sets of chromosomes. Those become the nuclei of the 2 new cells - The nucleus has divided
What happens during cytokinesis?
Before telophase ends, the cytoplasm and cell membrane divide to form 2 separate cells
How is mitosis useful in growth and repair?
Multicellular organisms use mitosis to grow or to replace damaged cells
How is mitosis useful in asexual reproduction?
Some organisms use mitosis to reproduce e.g. strawberries
What is produced at the end of mitosis?
The cell has produced 2 new daughter cells. each daughter cell contain the same set of chromosomes in its nucleus as the other daughter cell. They’re genetically identical diploid cells. They’re also genetically identical to the parent cell
What causes cancer?
- The rate at which cells divide is controlled by an organisms genes
- if theres a change in a gene that controls cell division, the cell may start dividing uncontrollably
- This can lead to a mass of abnormal cells (tumour)
- If the tumour invades and destroys surrounding tissue, it is cancer
Describe cell division in animals
when animals are young, cells divide at a fast rate as they need to grow. When they reach adulthood, cells mostly divide to replace damaged cells. Cell differentiation is lost at an early stage
What is cell differentiation?
the process in which a cell changes to become specialised for its job. This allows multicellular organisms to work more efficiently
Describe cell elongation, cell division and cell differentiation in plants
- growth in height in plants is due to cell elongation
- cell division only happens in the roots and shoots
- plants grow continuously, so they will always differentiate to develop new parts
What is the function of embryonic stem cells?
These are cells found in early human embryos and they can divide and produce and kind of cell at all. This means they are important for the growth and development of organisms
What is the function of adult cells in animals?
These are found in bone marrow and aren’t as versatile as embryonic stem cells. They can be used to repair damaged cells.
What is the function of meristems?
Meristems are like embryonic stem cells but the cells in meristems can differentiate for as long as the plant lives.
What are the benefits of using stem cells in medicine?
- They may cure diseases e.g. sickle cell anaemia
- they can differentiate into any cell under certain conditions
- It can be used to replace cells that had been damaged due to injury
What are the risks of using stem cells in medicine?
- Tumour development - stem cells divide rapidly, this can cause a tumour if not controlled
- Disease transmission - is stem cells are infected with a virus., it could infect a patient and make them sicker
- Rejection - If foreign stem cells were used, the body may not recognise it and trigger an immune response. Drugs could be taken but this would make them more susceptible to diseases
- Ethical issues - each cell could be a potential human life (others say it is better to cure those suffering first)