The Cell Cycle

Cell cycle is a series of events that takes place in a cell as it grows and divides.

Series of Steps included in the Cell Cycle:

● Cell Growth

● Duplication of Genetic material (DNA)

● Cell Division

The Cell cycle has two phases Interphase and M Phase.

Interphase (Preparatory Phase) - the phase of the cell cycle in which a typical cell spends most of
its life. In which the cell obtains nutrients and metabolizes them, grows, replicates its DNA in preparation for
mitosis, and conducts other "normal" cell functions. The interphase contains 3 stages G 1 (First Gap), S
stage ( Synthesis), and G2 (Second Gap).

The three stages of Interphase:

G1 stage (First Gap)

– The cell grows physically larger, copies organelles, and makes the molecular building blocks it will
need in later steps.

S stage (Synthesis)

– The cell synthesizes a complete copy of the DNA in its nucleus. It also duplicates a microtubule-
organizing structure call the centrosome. The centrosome help separate the DNA during M phase.

G2 (Second Gap)

– The cell grows more, makes proteins and organelles and begins to reorganize its contents in
preparation for Mitosis.

M phase is the period of actual nuclear and cell division during which the duplicated chromosomes
are divided equally between two progeny cells. The M phase includes the division of the nucleus called
Mitosis and the division of the cytoplasm called Cytokinesis. Mitosis has 4 four phases which are Prophase,
Metaphase Anaphase and Telophase.

The four stages of Mitosis:

Prophase

– the chromosomes condense and become visible, the nuclear membrane breaks down, and the
spindle apparatus forms at opposite poles of the cell.

Metaphase

– A stage during the process of cell division. Normally individual chromosomes are spread out in the
cell nucleus. During metaphase, the nucleus dissolves and the cells chromosomes condense and move
together, aligning in the center of the dividing cell.
Anaphase

– is the stage of Mitosis after the process of metaphase, when replicated chromosomes are split
and newly copied chromosomes (daughter chromatids) are moved to opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase

– the cell is nearly done dividing, and it starts to re-establish its normal structures as cytokinesis
(division of the cell contents) takes place.

Cytokinesis – is the physical process of cell division, which divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two
daughter cells.
 Meiosis is a type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of
chromosomes in gametes (the sex cells, or egg and sperm). In humans, body (or somatic) cells are diploid,
containing two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent). To maintain this state, the egg and sperm that
unite during fertilization must be haploid, with a single set of chromosomes. During meiosis, each diploid
cell undergoes two rounds of division to yield four haploid daughter cells — the gametes. There are two
stages in meiosis, it is Meiosis I and Meiosis II.

Meiosis I

Prophase I - During prophase I, differences from mitosis begin to appear. As in mitosis, the chromosomes
begin to condense, but in meiosis I, they also pair up. Each chromosome carefully aligns with its
homologue partner so that the two match up at corresponding positions along their full length. Meiosis I
also contains the process in which homologous trade parts called Crossing over (Recombination).

Metaphase I – during metaphase I, homologue pairs—not individual chromosomes—line up at the

metaphase plate for separation.

Anaphase I - the homologues are pulled apart and move apart to opposite ends of the cell. The sister
chromatids of each chromosome, however, remain attached to one another and don't come apart.

Telophase I - the chromosomes arrive at opposite poles of the cell. In some organisms, the nuclear
membrane re-forms and the chromosomes decondense, although in others, this step is skipped—since
cells will soon go through another round of division, meiosis II.

Cytokinesis usually occurs at the same time as telophase I, forming two haploid daughter cells.

Meiosis II

Prophase II - chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope breaks down, if needed. The centrosomes
move apart, the spindle forms between them, and the spindle microtubules begin to capture chromosomes.

Metaphase II - the chromosomes line up individually along the metaphase plate.

Anaphase II - the sister chromatids separate and are pulled towards opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase - nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, and the chromosomes
decondense.

Cytokinesis splits the chromosome sets into new cells, forming the final products of meiosis: four haploid
cells in which each chromosome has just one chromatid.