2.1.6 – L1 – Cell Cycle and Mitosis.

Can I explain how the amount of DNA changes throughout the cell cycle?

DO NOW – put these in size order (biggest to smallest) and define them.
• Cell
• Centriole
• Centromere
• Chromatid
• Chromatin
• Chromosome
• DNA
• Gene
• Nucleolus
• Nucleus
 2.1.6 – L1 – Cell Cycle and Mitosis.
Can I explain how the amount of DNA changes throughout the cell cycle?

SELF-ASSESS:
• Cell - a mass of cytoplasm that is bound externally by a plasma membrane.
• Centriole - paired barrel-shaped organelles located in the cytoplasm of animal cells near the nuclear
envelope that organize microtubules.
• Centromere - the region where the cell's spindle fibers attach to on a chromosome.
• Chromatid – replica of chromosomes.
• Chromatin - a mixture of DNA and proteins that form the chromosomes found in the cells of humans
and other higher organisms.
• Chromosome - made up of proteins and DNA organized into genes found in the nucleus.
• DNA – a polymer made up of pyrimidine and purine base pairs and held together by a ribose sugar-
phosphate backbone.
• Gene – a length of DNA that codes for a polypeptide or RNA length that is involved in regulating gene
expression.
• Nucleolus - An area inside the nucleus of a cell that is made up of RNA and proteins and is where
ribosomes are made.
• Nucleus - a membrane-bound organelle which contains genetic material (DNA) in all eukaryotic
organisms.
 2.1.6 – L1 – Cell Cycle and Mitosis.
Can I explain how the amount of DNA changes throughout the cell cycle?

1. Describe what chromosomes are made of.

2. Explain what happens in each stage of the cell cycle.
3. Explain how sister chromatids replicate and join.
4. Define homologous chromosome.
5. Outline the steps involved in mitosis (PMAT) from a diagram and from
electron micrographs.
6. Calculate the number of cells in a stage of mitosis.
Eukaryotic cells DT1 - What is the relationship between DNA, genes
and chromosomes.

DT2 – Describe the structure of a chromosome. Refer

to all structures labelled in the diagram.

DT3 – Suggest how the structure of the chromosome

relates to its function.

If you stretched the DNA in one cell all the way out, it would be
about 2m long and all the DNA in all your cells put together would
be about twice the diameter of the Solar System
TASK – Complete the worksheet.

G1 –the first gap phase

➢ cell grows larger
➢ Organelles replicated
➢ Synthesising molecules
needed for DNA replication

S - Synthesis stage
G2 – Second gap stage
DNA and centrosomes are
➢ Cell grows larger
replicated
➢ Organelles replicated
Sister chromatids join at
➢ Proteins made
centromere
➢ Preparation for mitosis.
 CHECKPOINTS CHECKPOINT:
DT1 – When are there
checkpoints in the cell cycle
and what are they for?

DT2 – What would happen if

the cell did not have
checkpoints?

DT3 – G0 is when the cell

leaves the cell cycle. Suggest
when this might happen and
why.
TPS – Compare chromosomes, chromatid, chromatin?
• Chromatid – replica of chromosomes.

• Chromatin - a mixture of DNA and

proteins that form the chromosomes
found in the cells of humans and other
higher organisms.

• Chromosome - made up of proteins

and DNA organized into genes found
in the nucleus.
In somatic cells (non-gametes) there are usually two copies of each
chromosome
- 1 is inherited from the mother (maternal)
- 1 is inherited from the father (paternal)
These are called homologous chromosome pairs because they have the
same the gene locus.

Genes for the same thing

in the same location along
the chromosome
- Same or different
alleles
GCSE RECALL MWB TASK

7
2, 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
What is mitosis?
Mitosis specifically refers to the process of nuclear division
that occurs before a cell physically divides in two.
During mitosis, the cell’s DNA is copied into each of the two
daughter cells. In multicellular organisms, mitosis provides
new cells for growth and tissue repair.

In eukaryotes, it can also

be a form of asexual
reproduction. This most
commonly occurs in
single-celled organisms,
such as yeast.

13 of 32 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

TASK – answer the questions
in full sentences:
1. What is the key subcellular
structure involved in mitosis?
2. What are the phases of
mitosis?
3. What is interphase?
4. What membrane dissolves
during prophase? Why?
5. What do we call the location
of where the chromosomes
line up?
6. What shape do the sister
chromatids make in
anaphase?
7. When do the nuclear
envelopes reform?
8. Is cytokinesis part of mitosis?
TASK – take in turns to describe the image to
your partner. They have to draw it on MWBs.
Phases of mitosis

17 of 32 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

RECALL – 2.1.1:
• TASK - Compare the membranes and membrane-bound organelles in
plant and animal cells.
Animal cells

Plant cells
 3 Animal cells cleavage furrow forms
around middle of cell (1); furrow pulls
inwards and fuses (1); plants cells
furrow cannot form due to cell wall (1);
vesicle assemble across centre of cell
and fuse (1)
RECALL – 2.1.1:
DT1 – what stain should be used for staining chromosomes?
DT2 – Why could you not study mitosis on slides if the chromosomes
were not condensed.
DT3 – Describe how you would prepare a slide? What method would
you use?
You need to be able to identify the stages in
electron micrographs
You need to be able to identify the stages in
electron micrographs
Prophase DNA replicates
Interphase

Prophase Chromosomes become visible

Nuclear membrane dissolves

Chromosomes line up in equator of

metaphase
cell

Chromosomes pulled apart to

Anaphase
opposite poles of cells

Telophase A nucleus forms around both sets of

chromosomes and the cell membrane
and cytoplasm split
CHECKPOINT – describe mitosis ensuring that
you refer to all these subcellular structures.
This is your
• Nuclear envelope
• Chromosomes
checklist.
• Chromatids No explanation of
• Centromere mitosis is adequate
• Centrioles
• Spindle fibres
without reference
• Cell membrane to all of these
structures.
Now use your
cartoon strip to
answer the exam
question
Check your progress
DT1 – Sketch the
graph and describe
how the DNA
content changes
over time.

DT2 – What
cellular process is
this graph
showing? How do
you know?

DT3 – Label stages

of the cellular
process you chose
in DT2.
 Mitosis

S
G1

Cytokinesis
 28.8 / 29
The student counted the number of cells she observed in each stage of mitosis.
Of the 200 cells she counted, only six were in anaphase.
One cell cycle of onion root tissue takes 16 hours. Calculate how many minutes these cells spend in anaphase.

Show your working.

Hint: number of cells in each stage is proportional to time spent in stage

The student counted the number of cells she observed in each stage of mitosis.
Of the 200 cells she counted, only six were in anaphase.
One cell cycle of onion root tissue takes 16 hours. Calculate how many minutes these cells spend in anaphase.

Show your working.

number of cells in each stage is proportional to time spent in
stage

28.8 / 29
 cytokinesis;

ii G 1;
proteins / cytoplasm / organelles,
produced AND (this) is a slow process;

Any two from

centrioles move to (opposite) poles
spindle formation
nuclear envelope disintegrates
nucleolus disappears
Prophase
1. Chromosomes condense and become visible
2. Chromosomes appear as two sister chromatids
joined at the centromere
3. Nuclear envelope disintegrates, nucleolus Metaphase
disappears
4. Centrosomes/centrioles move to opposite poles 5.Chromosomes line up at the
equator and are attached to
spindle fibres by there centromere
Anaphase
6. The centromere divides;
7.Sister chromatids are pulled
Telophase
to opposite poles, spindle
fibres shorten 8. Chromatids unwind

Mitosis
9. Nuclear envelopes formed
around each group of

(M phase)
chromatids