Chapter 12:

The Cell Cycle

The Cell Cycle  A. The Role of Cell Division
 
Why do cells divide?
 
• Growth
• Reproduction
• Replacement of dying cells – skin, RBC
• Reproduction in multi-cellular organisms – gamete
formation (meiosis)

In the case of growth, why divide, rather than simply get

bigger?

• Surface:volume ratio constraints

The Cell Cycle

1. G1 Phase  1st growth phase

2. S Phase  DNA duplicated
3. G2 Phase  Final growth phase
4. Mitosis
5. Cytokinesis

Purpose of the first three phases (Interphase) – to duplicate

cell contents; 90% of the cell’s growth cycle

Purpose of Mitosis – to divide the genetic material into exact

two halves

Purpose of Cytokinesis – to divide all other contents (except

nucleus) into two cells
Mitosis in an onion root
Binary fission in bacteria

Not the best method of chromosome division – no

microtubule and there is no division in exact halves of all
genetic material.

Bacteria have a single chromosome (versus the 46 human

have).
Fig. 19.1
Important Notes

DNA wraps some special proteins to form more stable

structure called chromosomes

Chromosome are found inside nucleus

Human - 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs (1 set of 23 from egg, 1

set of 23 from sperm)

Gene is a segment of DNA that is responsible for controlling

a trait

Each chromosome contains thousands of genes (these make

up our traits)
Human female chromosomes
Human female karyotype
Human male chromosomes
Human male karyotype
Types of cell division

• Mitosis:
– Growth, development & repair
– Asexual reproduction (yields identical cells)
– Occurs in somatic (body) cells
• Meiosis:
– Sexual reproduction (yields different cells)
– Occurs in specific reproductive cells
Process of mitosis
 
Aim: Two identical daughter cells exact copy of mother cell
formed

Requirements – the whole DNA must be copied exactly

Phases of Mitosis

1. Prophase

2. Prometaphase

3. Metaphase

4. Anaphase

5. Telophase
1. Prophase

- Chromatin condenses, this causes the chromosomes to

begin to become visible

- Centrosomes separate, moving to opposite ends of the

nucleus

- The centrosomes start to form a framework used to

separate the two sister chromatids called the mitotic
spindle, that is made of microtubules

- Nucleolus disappears
 
2. Prometaphase

- Nuclear envelope fragments

- Chromosomes become more condensed

- A kinetochore is formed at the centromere, the point where

the sister chromatids are attached

- Microtubules attach at the kinetochores

3. Metaphase

- Chromosomes align on an axis called the metaphase plate

- Note: the spindle consists of microtubules, one attached to

each chromosome
4. Anaphase

- Each centromere splits making two chromatids free

- Each chromatid moves toward a pole

- Cell begins to elongate, caused by microtubules not

associated with the kinetochore
5. Telophase

• Formation of nuclear membrane and nucleolus

• Short and thick chromosomes begin to elongate to form

long and thin chromatin

• Formation of the cleavage furrow - a shallow groove in

the cell near the old metaphase plate

• Cytokinesis = division of the cytoplasm

Mitosis
Mitosis in an onion root
The human life cycle
Three sexual life cycles differing in the timing of meiosis and fertilization
Preparation of a human karyotype
Meiosis

• Type of cell division that halves number of

chromosomes (e.g., 2N to 1N)
• Process of 2 successive divisions
• Product is gamete, essential for sexual
reproduction
Overview of meiosis: how meiosis reduces chromosome number
The results of alternative arrangements of two homologous
chromosome pairs on the metaphase plate in meiosis I
The results of crossing over during meiosis
A comparison of mitosis and meiosis
A comparison of mitosis and meiosis: summary
Evolutionary advantage

• asexual reproduction (mitosis)

– easy, rapid, effective way to reproduce
– useful in stable environment
– lack of genetic diversity among offspring
• sexual reproduction (meiosis)
– promotes genetic variability
– useful in dynamic environment