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You should have 16 total lines, 4 of each color. Each color represents a different chromosome
pair, and each pair should have one gene labeled. For this activity, we assume that the organism
is heterozygous for the 4 genes that we labeled – they have a dominant uppercase allele on one
chromosome and a recessive lowercase allele on the other chromosome of the pair.
Mitosis and meiosis both begin with diploid cells. In this activity, the initial cell is 2n = 8 total
chromosomes (or 4 homologous pairs). The other 8 lines will be used when you make a copy of
all the DNA pieces during interphase.
Make sure you randomly distribute these chromosomes… the pairs are often nowhere near each
other.
A
a
a
Mitosis
Show the copying that occurs during interphase (you can just place the copy on top of the
original to make an “X” shape). The DNA is actually in __chromatin__ unpacked form during
interphase copying.
In early mitosis, we can actually see the X shapes. Show how they lineup in mitosis to be split
apart. Then split them apart and show what you get in the product cells (after cytokinesis
occurs). Label the allele letters also!
A
lineup in
mitosis: a
a
A
after
cytokinesis:
Questions:
1) What is the purpose of mitosis in different species? (two purposes for us humans, one
additional purpose for other species)
For humans, mitosis is used for growth and development and tissue renewal. For other
species, mitosis is also used to reproduce.
2) Assuming we start with a diploid cell, are the cells at the end of the process diploid or
haploid?
The diploid cell stays diploid for mitosis at the end.
3) How does the mechanism of mitosis ensure its overall purpose? (I’m thinking about the
lineup here)
Mitosis ensures its overall purpose because the process ensures that genetic information is
replicated so both cells have the DNA needed to survive. By producing new cells, this
ensures growth because more cells is more growth. Tissue renewal is mitosis because the
creation of new cells from mitosis ensures that the tissue cells are not too old.
Now go deeper into the mechanism of mitosis by reviewing pages 235 – 239 of your textbook.
Use these terms in context in your review of the process:
phases: cytokinesis, interphase (including G1, G2, S subphases), mitosis (also called M)