Cell division

Mitosis

2 types of cell division- somatic cell division and reproductive cell division.

Somatic cell – any cell of the body other than a germ cell

Germ cell- gamete (sperm or oocyte)

Somatic cell division – cell undergoes a nuclear division called mitosis and a cytoplasmic division
called cytokinesis to produce 2 identical cells, each with the same number and kind of chromosomes
as the original cell. Somatic cell division replaces dead or injured cells and adds new ones during
tissue growth.

Reproductive cell division – produces gametes in meiosis in which the number of chromosomes in
the nucleus is reduced by half.

Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, 46 in total. The 2 chromosomes that make up each pair
are called homologous chromosomes, or homologs; they contain similar genes arranges almost in
the same order.

Females – X and X

Male – X and Y chromosomes

Somatic cells contain 2 sets of chromosomes and so are called diploid cells, 2n.

Interphase

 Cell replicates DNA

 High metabolic activity (most cell growth happens here)
 Consists of 3 phases: G1, S (synthesis of DNA), and G2
 G-phases are periods when there is no activity related to DNA duplication
 G1: cell is metabolically active; it replicates most of its organelles and cystosolic
components but not it’s DNA. Centrosomes also begin to replicate
 G1 lasts approx. 8-10 hours
 Cells that never divide or remain in G1 for too long are said to be in the G0 phase
 S phase: cell division occurs and lasts approx. 8 hours.
 S phase: DNA replication occurs (the original molecule of DNA has become 2 identical DNA
molecules – complementary base pairing)
 G2: cell growth continues, enzymes and other proteins are synthesised, centrosome
replication is completed.

Mitotic phase

Prophase

 Chromatin fibres condense and shorten into chromosomes into 2 separte nuclei
  Because longitudinal DNA replication took place during the S phase of interphase, each
prophase chromosome consists of a pair of identical strands called chromatids.
 Centromere holds chromatids together
 Kinetochore- protein complex attached to outside of centromere
 Tubulins in the pericentriolar material of the centrosomes start to form the mitotic spindle
(made from microtubules and responsible for the separation of chromatids to opposite
poles)
 Microtubules lengthen and push centrosomes to poles of cell so that spindle extends from
pole to pole
 Nucleus disappears
 Nuclear envelope breaks down

Metaphase

 Microtubules of the mitotic spindle align the centromeres of the chromatid pairs at the
exact centre of the mitotic spindle. This midpoint region is called the metaphase plate.4

Anaphase

 Centromeres split – separates chromatid pair which move towards opposite poles of the
cell.
 Chromatids are now called chromosomes

Telophase

 The identical sets of chromosomes, now at opposite poles of the cell, uncoil and revert to
the threadlike chromatin form.
 Nuclear envelope forms around each chromatin mass
 Nucleoli reappear in the identical nuclei
 Mitotic spindle breaks up

Cytokinesis

 Begins in late anaphase

 Cleavage furrow forms (slight indention of plasma membrane) and is competed after
telophase
 Actin microfilaments that lie just inside the plasma membrane form a contractile ring that
pulls the plasma membrane progressively inward. Then the cell splits in 2
 2 sets of chromosomes end up in separate cells
 Interphase begins