SHEK 2105/SIK 2006: GENETIK AM MANUSIA

Lecture 2: The Cell Cycle

Yusrizam Sharifuddin
yusrizam@um.edu.my

Wellcome Image Award 2012

Institut Sains Biologi, Universiti Malaya

Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya 1
Why must a cell divide?

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 Why must a cell divide?

• The ability of organisms to reproduce best distinguishes living things from non-living
matter
• The continuity of life is based upon the reproduction of cells, or cellular division
• Cell division is an integral part of the cell cycle
• The cycle begins with replication of genetic material (DNA) followed by cell division to
produce two daughter cells from one parent cell
• It is an ordered process and is tightly controlled by the cell cycle machinery.

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 Cell Cycle and Cellular Division

• The ability of organisms to reproduce best distinguishes living things from non-living
matter
• The continuity of life is based upon the reproduction of cells, or cell division
• Cell division is an integral part of the cell cycle

There are different types of cellular divisions

• Prokaryotes: - via Binary fission
• Eukaryotes:
(i) Mitosis:
• Important for growth, development and repair
• Occurs in somatic cells
• Produces genetically identical cells
(ii) Meiosis:
• Occurs in specific reproductive cells
• Produces genetically different cells bearing half the number of chromosomes
• Yields gametes e.g., eggs and sperms (or spores) – involved in sexual
reproduction

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 Cell Cycle and Cellular Division

• Cell division is the process by which a cell, including the nucleus, undergoes replication and
splits to produce two daughter cells

• In order to be viable, each daughter cell must contain a complete set of genetic material so
that all its proteins can be expressed at the appropriate levels

• In addition to its role in directing protein synthesis, DNA enables the passage of genetic
information from one generation to the next.

• Hence, in a sexually reproducing multicellular organism, cells must have two mechanisms
of cell division, resulting in both diploid and haploid daughter cells

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 Cell Cycle and Cellular Division

Eukaryotic cell division is compose of:

(i) Mitosis: - the division of the nucleus
(ii) Cytokinesis: - the division of the cytoplasm

•Cells duplicate their genetic material before they divide → each daughter cell receives an
exact copy of the genetic material DNA

• A dividing cell duplicates its DNA - allocates the two copies to opposite ends of the cell -
and only then splits into daughter cells (cytokinesis)

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The Animal Cell

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Organisation of the Chromosome

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Organisation of the Chromosome

Why does the

cellular genetic
material need to
be organised is
such a manner?

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Organisation of the Chromosome

Though chromosomes are “all about”

DNA, the fact is much of this structure is
consists of various proteins

Chromatid: - one of the two identical

copies of DNA making up a duplicated
chromosome and are joined at the
centromeres

Sister chromatids: - Form through

replication and not formed via
chromatids coming together

A chromatid remains as a chromatid as

long as it is held in association with a
chromatid at the centromere

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 Organisation of the Chromosome

Centromere
Chromatid

Chromosome
Chromatid

A chromatid remains as a chromatid as

long as it is held in association with a
chromatid at the centromere

When two sister chromatids separate

(after metaphase), they are referred to
as sister chromosomes

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Karytotyping

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Karytotyping

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 Chromatin versus Chromosome

Chromatin Chromosomes
• Unwound DNA • Tightly packaged DNA
• Found throughout Interphase • Found only during cell division
• DNA being utilised in the synthesis of • DNA is not needed in macromolecules
various macromolecules synthesis but being packaged for
replication and transport

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 The Cell Cycle

Duplication of cellular contents and followed by cytokinesis

producing two genetically identical daughter cells

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 The Cell Cycle

The cell cycle consists of four distinct phases:

1. G1 phase: - gap between the mitosis of the preceding round of the cell cycle and the
DNA synthesis phase of the current cycle. It contains the restriction point, - denotes the
start of the cell cycle
2. S phase: - DNA synthesis stage during which the cell’s chromosomes are replicated in
preparation for cell division
3. G2 phase: - the gap between the completion of DNA synthesis and the decision to divide
4. M phase: - mitosis, the cell division phase and results in the production of two daughter
cells

• Collectively, the G1, S and G2 phases – known as interphase: the interval between
divisions during which the cell undergoes its functions and prepare for mitosis.
• Certain types of cells are non-dividing, such as neurons –they are quiescent – not cycling
and remain in a resting state called G0

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 The Cell Cycle

The cell cycle can be divided into four phases

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 The Cell Cycle

Nuclear division or mitosis can be divided further into different phases

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Phases of Mitosis

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Phases of Mitosis

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Cytokinesis

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The Importance of Mitotic Spindle

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The Importance of Mitotic Spindle

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Comparative Cell Division

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 The Cell Cycle
Mitotic spindle Cell division
assembly completion

DNA replication
The cell cycle initiates important processes
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 The Cell Cycle

Progression of the cell cycle is regulated by feedback from

intracellular events
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 A Question for You

What happen when there

are disruptions to the
normal cell cycle?

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 Chromosomal Instability and Cancer

Source: UC Berkeley

Karyotypic imbalances contribute to carcinogenesis

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 Chromosomal Instability and Cancer

Source: Thompson, 2010

Spectral karyotyping (SKY) of human glioma U251 cancer cells

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 Science in the Real World

In 2010, the first synthetic

bacteria was created. The first
step to engineering a new
biological life form

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