CHAPTER 3: CELL DIVISON

THE CONCEPT OF CELL DIVISION

THE CELL CYCLE

MITOSIS

MEIOSIS
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
– Explain cell division and state its importance.
– Explain the stages in cell cycle.
– Describe the four stages in cell cycle, explain the
behaviour of the chromosomes at each stage, describe
briefly cytokinesis, compare cell division in plant and
animal and state the significance of mitosis.
– Explain and compare the processes in meiosis I and II by
explaining the position and changes of the chromosomes
at each stage, define chromatid, synapsis, bivalent, tetrad,
chiasma, crossing over and centromere, state the
significance of meiosis, compare meiosis and mitosis.
(I) THE CONCEPT OF CELL DIVISION

(II) THE CELL CYCLE

 THE CONCEPT OF CELL DIVISION
• Modern cell theory states that
‘All new cells are derived from other
cell’

• Unicellular organisms reproduce by cell division

• Multicellular organisms depend on cell division for
their development from fertilized egg and for
growth and repair.
Parent cells divide equally into two
cells and continue dividing until
the cells are permanently
transformed and cannot divide
anymore
IMPORTANCE OF CELL DIVISION
IN LIVING ORGANISMS
For growth
For reproductive development
Maintain ratio between nucleus
and cytoplasm
Continuity of life or survival
Multiplication of cells for
specialisation
Processes involved in cell division

a) karyokinesis
(nuclear division)

b) cytokinesis
(cytoplasmic division)
 • Cell division involves the distribution of identical
genetic material (DNA) to two daughter cells.

• A dividing cell duplicates its DNA, allocates the two

copies to opposite ends of the cell, and only then split
into daughter cells.
 •A cell’s endowment of DNA, its genetic information,
is called its genome.

•Before the cell can divide, DNA must be copied and

then the two copies separated so that each daughter cell
ends up with a complete genome.
 This DNA – protein complex,
called chromatin, is
organized into a long, thin
fiber.

 After a cell duplicates it’s

DNA in preparation for
division, the chromatin
condenses .

 It becomes densely coiled

and folded, making the
chromosome much shorter
and so thick.
THE CELL CYCLE
-The period that extends from the time a new cell is produced
until its complete is known as CELL CYCLE

-Cell cycle is the sequence of stages that a cell passes through

between one cell division and the next.

-Genetic material is inherited from one generation to the next.

-Time taken varies with tissues and among species

-Beans take about 19 hours, RBC at 2.5 million per sec, skin cells
continuously throughout life

-Environmental factors can disrupt cell division rate

THE CELL CYCLE
Involves two major phases:
(1) Interphase
- a period of cell growth during which the DNA in

the nucleus replicates

(2) The M phase (Mitotic/Mitosis) or cell

division
- cell division includes mitosis and cytokinesis.
INTERPHASE
-Phase between successive mitotic
divisions
-`Resting’ phase
-Cell duplicates genetic materials
(synthesis
of RNAs and proteins)
-Longest stage in cell cycle; 90% of cycle
12 – 24 hours in mamalian tissues
 THE CELL CYCLE
The three stages of the
cell cycle;
i. G1 – The first
growth phase( 1st
gap)
ii. Sphase (synthesis
of DNA)
iii. G2 – The second
growth phase (2nd
gap)
The Cell Cycle
P M
G2 A T
S
C
M

Interphase

G1
 i. G1 – The first growth phase

• The longest phase

• Volume of cytoplasm
increase
• Protein synthesis
• Increase number of
organelles
• An important cell cycle
control mechanism
activated during this
period (G1 Checkpoint)
ensures that everything is
ready for DNA synthesis.
• In human G1 takes about
5-6 hours
 ii. S phase
• DNA synthesis phase

• To produce two similar daughter

cells, the complete DNA
instructions in the cell must be
duplicated.

• Two centrioles appear during this

stage.

• The cell’s DNA replicates and non

consist of two identical
chromatids.

• In human takes about 10-12 hours

 iii. G2 – The second growth phase
• During the gap between DNA synthesis
and mitosis, the cell will continue to
grow and produce new proteins.

• Formation of microtubules

• Increase in size of nucleus

• Energy stores are increased.

• At the end of this gap is another control

checkpoint (G2 Checkpoint) to
determine if the cell can now proceed to
enter M (mitosis) and divide.

• In human takes about 4-6 hours

 iv. Mitotic phase

• Includes both mitosis and

cytokinesis.

• This process of nuclear division and

followed by division of cytoplasm
called cytokinesis.

• Cell growth and protein production

stop at this stage in the cell cycle.

• All of the cell's energy is focused on

the complex and orderly division into
two similar daughter cells.
 CONCLUSION

 During all three subphases, the cell grows by

producing proteins and cytoplasmic organelles.
 However, chromosomes are duplicated only during
the S phase.
 Thus, a cell grows (G1), continues to grow as it
copies its chromosomes(S), grows more as it
completes preparations for cell division (G2), and
divide (M). The daughter cells may then repeat the
cycle.