Cell Division

 
We will learn about cell division, cell cycle and mitosis and meiosis.
 

6.1 Cell Division

 
 
 Karyokinesis involves the division of the nucleus.
 Cytokinesis involves the division of the cytoplasm.

 
Organism cell consists of somatic and gamete cell:
 
Somatic cell

 Body cells apart from gametes

 Somatic cells are produced through the mitosis process
 It contains a diploid number of chromosomes, that is, each cell contains two sets of chromosomes or 2
 In diploid cells, one set of chromosomes originate from the male parent (paternal chromosomes
parent (maternal chromosomes)

 
Gamete cell

 Gametes are reproductive cells

 Gametes are produced through the meiosis process
 It contains a haploid number of chromosomes, that is, each cell contains one set of chromosomes or n

6.2 Cell Cycle and Mitosis

 
1. The division of the nucleus, followed by cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis) that produces two genetic
2. Controlled by the cell cycle; interphase (G1, S, and G2 phase) and M phase.
3. After mitosis is completed, cytokinesis occurs to form two identical daughter cells.
4. Cytokinesis occurs in animal and plant cells.
5. Animal cells form a cleavage furrow to form two separated individual cells.
6. Plant cells form a cell plate to produce two separate cells.

 
The Cell Cycle and M phase:
 
Interphase
G1 phase

 Synthesized proteins and new organelles

 The metabolic rate of the cell is high
 Chromosomes are thin, known as chromatin

 
S phase

 Synthesized DNA
 Form two identical sister chromatids through DNA replication

 
G2 phase

 The cell continues to grow

 Enzymes for cell division are synthesised
 The cell accumulates energy

 
M phase

Prophase

 Chromosomes become condense and visible under the microscope

 Two sister chromatids joined at the centromere
 Centrioles move to the opposite poles
 Spindle fibres are formed
 Nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear

 
Metaphase

 Chromosomes aligned on the metaphase plate

 Spindle fibres form completely

 
Anaphase

 Spindle fibres pull the two sister chromatids at the centromere

 Causing the two sister chromatids to separate

 
Telophase

 Begins when both chromosomes reached completely at the poles

 Chromosomes uncoiled and became chromatin again
 Spindle fibres disappear, and the nuclear membrane begins to form
  Now the M phase is complete

 
The necessity of mitosis:
 
 For embryo development and organism growth, mitosis ensures that rapid cell growth occurs.
 When the body is injured, mitosis will produce new cells to replace cells that are dead or damaged.
 Stem cell therapy uses stem cells from bone marrow to treat damaged cartilage.
 Through the mitosis process, the lizard is able to grow a new tail (regeneration) if the tail breaks.

 
Effects of Uncontrolled Mitosis:
 
1. Can produce cancer cells.
2. Cancer cells are abnormal cells that compete for nutrients and energy with the normal cells for growth
malfunction and die.

6.3 Meiosis
 
1. A process of nuclear division that reduces the number of chromosomes into half.
2. Produces haploid gametes.
3. Provides genetic variation from one generation to another through the process of crossing-over, indep
fertilisation.
4. Occurs in the gonads; testes and ova (humans); anther and ovary (flowering plants).
5. Consists of two separate nuclear divisions; meiosis I and meiosis II.
6. The cell undergoes interphase before entering meiosis.

 
Meiosis I:
 
Phase Key event
 Chromosomes condensed and thickened.
 Homologous chromosomes paired up to form bivalents through synapsis.
 Non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes exchange the DNA se
Prophase I  It leads to genetic recombination.
 Centrioles migrate to opposite poles and form spindle fibres.
 Nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear.

 Spindle fibres pull the homologous chromosomes to the middle cell and ali
by side.
Metaphase I
 The homologous chromosomes are arranged independently.

 Spindle fibres pull the homologous chromosomes to the opposite poles.

Anaphase I  Each chromosome still consists of two sister chromatids.
  The chromosomes arrived at both poles.
 Each pole now has a haploid daughter nucleus because it contains one set o
Telophase I and  Spindle fibres disappear, nucleolus and nuclear membrane reappear.
cytokinesis  Produce two haploid daughter cells.
 Each daughter cell receives one chromosome from the homologous pair.

 
Meiosis II:
 
1. The process is similar to mitosis.
2. Produce four haploid cells which are genetically different from one another and parent cell.

 
Effects of Uncontrolled Meiosis:
 
1. Abnormal meiosis leads to non-disjunction of chromosomes.
2. Non-disjunction chromosomes lead to Turner's syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, XYY males and XX