Part I

Question 1:

The type of plant that could be carried out by adding the seeds of Taxus baccata to a pecan
pie would be a plan based on intoxication. A pecan pie has no levels of toxicity at all, except
for someone who is allergic to pecans. The seeds of Taxus baccata are toxic and dangerous
to humans. The addition of the seeds of Taxus baccata will intoxicate someone.

Question 2:

Taxines are bitter-tasting toxic alkaloids produced by the European yew's leaves and seeds
(Taxus baccata) and are toxic because they disrupt mitosis. Furthermore, taxine alkaloids
are dangerous because they are readily absorbed from the intestine and, in sufficient
amounts, can induce death owing to general heart failure, cardiac arrest, or respiratory
failure.

Part II

Question 1:

A mitotic inhibitor is a class of drugs obtained from natural plant sources that inhibits cell
development by slowing the mitotic process (cell division).

Question 2:

Microtubules are the largest cytoskeletal filaments, they are the most susceptible
cytoskeletal elements.

Question 3:

Mitosis is important since it is necessary for the growth and repair of the body. Mitosis is the
process through which somatic or body cells divide in animals. Cells multiply in this way to
repair damaged tissues or create new tissues for growth.
Question 4:

Centrosomes
Mitotic
Nucleolus
spindle
Nuclear
membrane
Aster

Chromatin
Centromere
Plasma
Chromosome
membrane
Nuclear
membrane
Interphase Prophase

Nonkinetochore
microtubules Metaphase
plate

Kinetochore

Spindle
Fragments fibers
of nuclear
membrane
Kinetochore
microtubules Centrosome

Prometaphase Metaphase

Nucleolus
forming

Chromatids Cleavage
furrow

Nuclear
membrane
forming
Anaphase Telophase and Cytokinesis
Question 5:

The cell expands in size during interphase, and microtubules are required for the
nucleus to remain in the cell's centre. The nucleolus vanishes during prophase as the
nuclear membrane begins to break down. Chromosomes become visible as they condense.
The centrioles travel to the cell's opposite poles and start sending out microtubules. In
prometaphase, chromosomes continue to condense, and kinetochores develop in the
centromeres. Centrosomes migrate in opposite directions as mitotic spindle microtubules
bind to kinetochores. The mitotic spindle is entirely developed during metaphase due to
microtubule formation. A cell's centrosomes are located on opposite ends of the cell. The
centromeres of chromatid pairs are surrounded by microtubules. At the metaphase plate,
each sister chromatid attached to the spindle fiber originates from opposite poles.
Furthermore, cohesin proteins that hold the sister chromatids together during anaphase
break down. Nonkinetochore spindle fiber lengthen as chromosomes are pushed toward
opposite poles, elongating the cell. Microtubules are involved in the separation of
chromosomes at the cell's opposing end. Chromosomes arrive at opposite poles and begin
to decondense during the telophase stage. The microtubules break down and the nuclear
membrane forms. The kinetochore microtubules disappeared as the polar microtubules
continued to elongate. Finally, in cytokinesis, a cleavage furrow separates daughter cells.
Microtubules stimulate the cell cortex to enable correct ingression and cleavage furrow
completion.

References

Libretexts. (2021c, September 4). 7.3: Mitotic phase - mitosis and cytokinesis. Biology
LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book
%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/07%3A_Cell_Reproduction/
7.3%3A_Mitotic_Phase_-_Mitosis_and_Cytokinesis
Thomas, P. A. (2003, June 1). Taxus baccata L. Besjournals.
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2003.00783.x