Mitosis and the Cell Cycle

Cell reproduction in unicellular

and multicellular organisms
Unicellular organisms reproduce by cell
division (binary fission)
Multicellular organism process of growth
and repair depend upon cell division, also
upon the production of sex cells

Why are cells small?

Diffusion limits the size of some cells
Essential substances must diffuse into the cell
and wastes must diffuse out of the cell.
The small size of the cell ensures that materials
can get in quickly

The cells DNA

Most cells have only one nucleus
It must have enough DNA in order to program the
cell
Larger cells may have more than one nucleus
Surface area to volume ratio
The volume increases faster than the area
If size of the cell doubles, the cell would require 8
times more nutrients

Chromosomes
Chromosomes are carriers of genetic material found
in the nucleus
They are made up of DNA
The information is copied and passed on to future
generations
Chromosomes usually exist as chromatin
Chromatin consists of long, winding strands which
condense into chromosomes before they divide

The human chromosome # is 46 in body cells, and 23

in sex cells.

The cell cycle

The cell cycle is a sequence of growth and

division of the cell

It consists of two periods

1. Interphase
2. Mitosis

Interphase
This is the growth
period where DNA is
copied

Mitosis
This is the dividing
period of the cell.
The cell will produce
two new cells during
mitosis

The Steps of Mitosis

There are 4 stages in mitosis. They are:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase

Prophase
During prophase, the chromatin coils into
chromosomes
The chromosome is held together by a centromere
The nucleus disappears
Centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell
The centrioles form the mitotic spindle which helps to
pull apart the chromosomes.

Metaphase
During metaphase, chromosome line up in
the middle of the cell
A spindle now forms across the cell

Anaphase
During anaphase, the chromosomes split
into chromatids
The spindle fibers shorten
This process pulls apart the chromosomes
into chromatids

Telophase
During telophase, the chromatids reach their
poles
The chromosomes unwind into chromatin
The spindle fibers break down
The nucleolus and nuclei form
The plasma membrane begins to pinch
inward

Cytokinesis
The next phase is cytokinesis.
This is the division of the cytoplasm.
This phase continues until two new
identical cells are formed.