G6B: The Cell Cycle and

Reproduction
 Kinds of Cell Division
• When a cell divides, it is called a “
cell,” and the new cells that are produced are
called “ cells.”
• How this works depends on what kind of cell
you start with.
 Prokaryotes
• Prokaryotic cells divide by binary fission:
• DNA is copied
• The cell splits in two
 Eukaryotes
• There are two kinds of cell division in eukaryotes
• MITOSIS: Normal cell division
• MEIOSIS: Cell division to make reproductive cells
The Cell Cycle
Topic 4.2
• This is the life
of a cell:
• Interphase (G1 +
S + G2)
• Mitosis: division
of the nucleus
• Cytokinesis:
division of the
cytoplasm
 Interphase
• This is the “normal lifetime” of the cell; it
takes up most of the cell cycle
• G1: period of cell growth and normal activity
• S: DNA replication occurs
• G2: Cell prepares for
division
 Mitosis: The “M” Phase
• This is the division of the nucleus
• Mitosis is divided into four phases:
• Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and
 Prophase
• DNA coils into visible doubled chromosomes.
• Nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear

• In animal cells, the centrioles begin to move

apart (to opposite “poles” of the cell)
• In both plant and animal cells, the spindle
fibers are organized – these will guide the
chromosomes during the division.
• Chromosomes
vs chromatin

• Parts of a doubled chromosome:

– Sister chromatids
– centromere
 Metaphase
• The doubled chromosomes are lined up in the
middle of the cell (at the “equator”) where
they are attached to the spindle fibers
 Anaphase
• The sister chromatids separate and move
towards opposite poles as the spindle fibers
shorten.
• Once they have separated, each chromatid is
called a chromosome.
 Telophase
• The spindle fibers disappear
• The nucleolus and nuclear membrane
reappear
• There are now two nuclei
 Cytokinesis
• Cytokinesis is the continuation of telophase.
• It is the division of the cytoplasm and the rest
of the cell, resulting in two new cells.

In animal cells, the membrane pinches

inward forming a “cleavage furrow”

In plant cells, a cell plate is formed

between the two new cells; new cell
walls form from this.
 END RESULTS OF MITOSIS
• The end result of a mitotic division is two
identical cells called “daughter cells”
• Each with a copy of the same DNA as the
 Control of the Cell Cycle
• There are regulatory proteins that
control the normal cell cycle by
triggering certain events at the right
• They make sure the cell does not
pass certain “check points” in the
cell cycle unless everything is OK to
proceed.
 Are the
chromosomes
3
organized
properly to
divide?

Is the cell big enough

Has the DNA been
2
copied correctly? 1
to divide? Does it have
enough nutrients?
• If a cell “fails” a checkpoint, it does not divide
unless the problem is fixed.
• If the problem can’t be fixed, the cell self-
destructs in a process called apoptosis.
• This is normal cell death - - when a cell is worn
out or no longer needed.
 Cancer: Cell Cycle Out of Control
• If a cell fails a checkpoint but divides anyway,
that may lead to cance

• Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells,

usually caused by mutations in the DNA, and
usually resulting in a tumor(s)

• This crowds out the normal cells so that they

stop working correctly, and can kill an
organism.
 One Parent or Two?
• This is the main difference between asexual and
sexual reproduction.
• In asexual reproduction, one parent organism
splits into two genetically identical organisms.
– This is not the same as mitosis! (Well, not usually.)
In mitosis, the two daughter cells are part of the
same organism (except in unicellular eukaryotes,
like the amoeba!)
• In sexual reproduction, two parents each
contribute half of the DNA to a new organism,
so the offspring are genetically diverse.
 Advantage or Disadvantage?
Asexual Sexual
• GOOD for quick • GOOD for genetic diversity
reproduction and ability to adapt to
• No need to find a mate changing environments
• Offspring genetically identical -
keeps good traits

• BAD for genetic diversity and • Takes longer

ability to adapt to changing • Must find a suitable mate
environments, unless you
reproduce VERY quickly
(bacteria) because then
mutations will add up to give
diversity
Examples of Asexual Reproduction
• Binary fission in bacteria:
– Under ideal conditions, one bacterial cell can divide
to produce many millions of cells every day!

• Budding in yeasts or hydra

• Fragmentation in starfish