THE STAGES OF MITOSIS

Prophase Metaphase
Diagram

What is  chromatin condenses into chromosomes  spindle fibres guide chromosomes to the equator
Happening?  nuclear membrane breaks down  spindle fibres attach at the centromere of each
 nucleolus disappears chromosome
 spindle fibres form
 centromeres move to opposite ends of the cell
 ANAPHASE TELOPHASE
Diagram

What is  centromere splits apart, and sister chromatids separate  chromosomes unwind into chromatin
Happening?  spindle fibres contract pulling chromosomes to the  spindle fibres breakdown
poles of the cell  nuclear membrane reforms and nucleolus forms in
each nucleus
The Cell Cycle and Mitosis Questions – Answer Key

1. Complete the following table regarding the image of the cell cycle:

Label Phase/Subphase What is happening

A
Interphase
B Rest phase
G0
C G1 Growth phase

D S phase DNA is duplicated

E G2 Growth

F Mitosis The nucleus splits into two

identical nuclei
G Cytokinesis The cell splits

2. What is the purpose of mitosis?

To create 2 identical cells (starting with only 1 cell).

3. What pulls apart identical chromosomes? ___spindle fibers___________

4. When is the DNA duplicated? _____interphase (s Phase)____________

5. What type of cell (s) do NOT undergo mitosis? __Sex cells (sperm and egg)

6. Why is it important that the identical chromosomes line up on the equator

during metaphase?

To make sure that the chromosomes are split properly and that each identical
chromosome will go to opposite poles of the cell.
 7. Why is it important that the nuclear membrane dissolves during prophase?

To let the DNA out so it can move around the cell. This is important because
eventually we will have two areas of DNA in the cell. If the nuclear membrane
did not dissolve, the DNA would be trapped in the nucleus.

8. Why do different cells have different rates of duplication?

Cells that are destroyed more often will replicate at a higher rate to replace
those lost cells (stomach and mouth cells replicate quickly).

9. What are 3 reasons why a cell will undergo mitosis/cytokinesis?

Growth of the organism

Reproduction
Repair