Eukaryotic Chromosomes

The DNA coils around proteins to form chromatin fibers.

Histones are proteins used to package DNA in
eukaryotes.
Nucleosomes consist of DNA wound around histone
molecules.
Chromatin fibers further coil up, forming compact dense
chromosomes that can be viewed under a light
microscope.
Thus, each eukaryotic chromosome contains one very
long DNA molecule (about 6 feet long), typically bearing
thousands of genes.
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Duplicated
chromosomes
(sister
chromatids)

TEM

Figure 8.4-2a

Centromere

LM

Figure 8.3

Chromosomes

Animation: DNA Packing

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Figure 8.7-1

INTERPHASE
Centro- Uncondensed
somes chromosome

PROPHASE
Mitotic spindle
forming

Fragments
of nuclear
envelope

Condensed
chromosome

Centromere

Nuclear
envelope

Plasma
membrane

Chromosome
(two sister chromatids)

Spindle tracks

LM

METAPHASE

The chromosomes
and their
movements
depend on the
mitotic spindle, a
football-shaped
structure of
microtubules that
guides the
separation of the
two sets of
daughter
chromosomes.

Figure 8.7-2b

LM

ANAPHASE

Figure 8.7-2c

LM

TELOPHASE

Bioflix Animation: Mitosis

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 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis
usually begins during/ overlaps with telophase,
divides the cytoplasm, and
is different in plant and animal cells.

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Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In animal cells, cytokinesis
is known as cleavage and
begins with the appearance of a cleavage furrow,
an indentation at the equator of the cell.

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SEM

Figure 8.8-1

Cleavage
furrow

Cleavage furrow

Contracting ring of
microfilaments

(a) Animal cell cytokinesis

Daughter cells

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In plant cells, cytokinesis begins when vesicles
containing cell wall material collect at the
middle of the cell and then fuse, forming a
membranous disk called the cell plate.
The cell plate grows outward, accumulating more
cell wall material as more vesicles join it.
Eventually, the membrane of the cell plate fuses
with the plasma membrane, and the cell plates
contents join the parental cell wall.
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Wall of
parent cell

Daughter
nucleus

Cell plate
forming

LM

Figure 8.8-2

Vesicles containing
Cell
cell wall material
wall
Cell plate

(b) Plant cell cytokinesis

New
cell wall

Daughter cells