Activity No.

6
MITOSIS

Introduction

Cell division is a basic metabolic process performed by every cell. One type of
cell division in cells is mitosis. Mitosis is a process in which the amount of genetic
material in a cell is the same. When mitosis occurs, there is replication of genetic
materials producing two daughter cells, each having the same amount of genetic
materials. Mitosis is generally divided into four stages, the prophase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase.
This activity examines the various events taking place in each stage of mitosis
both in plant and animal cells

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Objectives

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At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:

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1. describe the events associated with mitosis.
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2. distinguish the stage of mitosis in models and prepared slides.
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3. compare mitosis in plants and mitosis in animals.
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Materials
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Prepared slides of plant mitosis Microscopes

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Prepared slides of animal mitosis String or notebook wire

onion root ti Slide and cover slip
alcohol lamp Beaker
dissecting needle
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Petri dish
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Chemicals
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Schiff’s reagent
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10% hydrochloric acid

Acetocarmine stain
Distilled water
70% ethyl alcohol
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 A. Animal Mitosis

Prophase
The duplicated chromosomes are now distinct and each one is composed of two
sister chromatids held together by a centromere. The nucleolus has disappeared and
the nuclear envelope slowly disintegrates. The spindle begins to assemble as the
centrosomes, each containing two centrioles, migrate to the poles. Counting the number
of centromeres gives the number of chromosomes for the cell.

The mitotic spindle occupies the region formerly occupied the nucleus. Short
microtubules radiate out in a starlike aster from the pair of centrioles located in each
centrosome. The spindle consists of poles, asters, and fibers, which are bundles of
parallel microtubules. The sister chromatids capture spindle fibers coming from opposite
poles.

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Metaphase

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The sister chromatids are now attached to the spindle fibers and the
chromosomes are aligned at the equator of the cell. The centrioles are at the poles

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surrounded by the asters and the spindle apparatus is fully formed.
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Anaphase
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At the start of anaphase, the sister chromatids of each chromosome separate at

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the centromere, giving rise to two daughter chromosomes. Daughter chromosomes,

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each with a centromere and having one chromatid, begin to move toward opposite
poles. Each pole receives one of each kind and therefore has the diploid number of
daughter chromosomes.
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Telophase
New nuclear envelopes form around the daughter chromosomes at the poles.
Each daughter nucleus contains the same number and kinds of chromosomes as the
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parental cell. The chromosomes become more diffuse chromatin once again, and a
nucleolus appears in each daughter nucleus. Division of the cytoplasm by formation of a
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cleavage furrow is nearly complete.

Procedure
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1. Examine a prepared slide of animal mitosis under the microscope. Try to

observe the stages that correspond to the descriptions above.
2. Draw the stages of animal mitosis in Figure 6.1. Label the dividing cells
with its spindle fibers to which chromosomes are attached, the kinetochore
that holds the chromatids together, the equator and the chromosomes.

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 B. Plant Mitosis

1. Prepare a wet mount of an onion root tip undergoing mitosis. Use the
procedures indicated below:
a. Get a fresh mature onion bulb.
b. Set the bottom of the bulb in water until new roots develop.
c. Cut the root tips from the bulb and place it in vial with 70% ethyl
alcohol.
d. Place the pre treated root tip on a slide and add three drops of
10% hydrochloric acid (HCl). Slightly heat by moving the slide in
and out of the flame of an alcohol lamp for 2 minutes.
e. Transfer the root tip to a petri dish three-fourths full of distilled
water. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
f. Break up the root tip into very fine pieces using dissecting needle.
Add two drops of acetocarmine stain and let stand for 7 minutes.

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2. Observe first under LPO then shift to HPO. Locate the prophase,
metaphase, anaphase and telophase stage. Draw your observation in

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Figure 6.2 and label the parts.

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 Data Sheet

Name____________________________________Group No. ___________________

Course and Section________________________ Date Performed________________

Activity No.6
MITOSIS

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Prophase Metaphase
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Anaphase Telophase
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Figure 6.1 Stages of Animal Mitosis

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 m
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Prophase Metaphase

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Anaphase Telophase
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Figure 6. 2 Stages of Plant Mitosis

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 Discussion

1. Compare mitosis in plant and animal cells by filling up Table 1 below.

Table 6.1 Comparison of mitosis in plant and animal cells.

Cell Type Centrioles Aster Division of cytoplasm
(yes or no) (yes or no) (how divided)
Plant

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Animal

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2. If the nucleus has 46 chromosomes before the start of mitosis, How many
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chromosomes does it have during metaphase? _______
After telophase? _____________
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3. If a cell starts mitosis with chromosome number, 2n = 20, how many

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chromosomes will each daughter cells have after one mitotic division? How many
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daughter cells will result after this division?______________________________

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4. How does the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell compare with those
in the parent cell?__________________________________________________
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What have you learned from this activity?

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 ______________________________________________________________________
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For Further Research:

1. Why is mitosis referred to as cellular replication? _________________________

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2. Explain why cytokinesis in animal cells different from plant cells. Provide an
explanation to this difference. ________________________________________

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3. Why is duplication of chromosome required before mitosis occurs?
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5. What is/are the importance of mitosis in living organisms? __________________

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