Topic 15: Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Why do cells divide?

• Unicellular organisms divide in order to
reproduce
 Reminder:
Prokaryotic Replication is Binary Fission
Why do eukaryotic cells divide?
Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms
undergo cell division in order to:

Grow and develop

Zygote; Adult;
One cell Trillions of cells
Fetus;
Millions of cells
 Multicellular Cell Division
• Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms undergo cell
division in order to maintain and repair the body

– Maintain certain tissues like

skin and alimentary system that
constantly lose cells
– Repair tissues that have been
damaged.
 Multicellular Cell Division
• In the uterus and for the first few years of life,
all cells can divide

• In adulthood, only specific cells can divide

• Not all tissue types will be repaired:
– Neurons and muscle cells if damaged can remain
damaged
 The Cell Cycle

A standard series of steps.

 The Cell Cycle
• The Cell Cycle consists of 4 phases:
– Interphase (I)
• Growth and preparation
for division
• G1, S, G2
– Mitosis (M)
• Division of replicated
chromosome
– Cytokinesis (C)
• Separation into two new
cells
 Interphase
• Most of the cell cycle is spent during interphase
– Normal functions performed
– Preparations being made for mitosis

– Length of time spent in

interphase depends on the cell
– Includes G1, S and G2 phases.
– No distinct DNA visible (not
condensed into chromosomes)
 Interphase
• G1 Phase:
– Recovery from previous division
– Cell doubles its organelles and grows larger
– Accumulates raw materials for DNA synthesis

• S Phase:
– DNA replication (synthesis)
– Cell enters with 1 chromatid of each type
– Cell leaves with 2 identical chromatids of each type

• G2 Phase:
– Between DNA replication and onset of mitosis
– Cell synthesizes proteins necessary for division
 Eukaryotic DNA during Interphase

• Eukaryotic DNA is
combined/packaged with
proteins to form a DNA-protein
complex call chromatin
• Relaxed chromatin is too thin
to be viewed by a microscope
• Chromatin needs to be
replicated in S phase and then
condensed into chromosomes
for mitosis
 Chromosomes
• When a cell prepares to divide at the beginning of
mitosis the chromatin begins to condense and coil
into individual chromosomes. Sister Chromatin

Centromere
One Chromosome Kinetochore

One Chromatin
 Chromosome Structure
• DNA replication results in a two copies of chromatin
called sister chromatids, which are genetically identical.
• 2 sister chromatids condense and combine to form
chromosomes.
sister chromatids sister chromatids

chromatin
condenses
and connect
together
chromosomes
sister chromatids
sister chromatids
 Chromosome Structure
• The sister chromatids
are connected at a region
called the centromere.

• Kinetochores outside of
the centromere:
– Mark the site where the
microtubules attach to
pull the chromatids apart
during cell division.
 Chromosome Number
• Different organisms have different numbers of
chromosomes:

• The # of chromosomes
does not relate to
complexity of the
organism.
• Believe it or not humans
don’t have the most
chromosomes!
 Diploid and Haploid
BUT
Almostmature egginand
every cell spermbeing
a human cellshas two
copies of each
(gametes) chromosome.
have only one copy of each
chromosome.One setWhy??
from each parent

This
Thisisiscalled
called
HAPLOID
Diploid
or
Or1n 2n
 Haploid vs Diploid
• A haploid cell or haploid organism has one set of
chromosomes (1n).
– Examples: bacteria and reproductive cells (eggs/sperm).

• A diploid cell or organism has two sets of

chromosomes (2n).
• Diploid organisms undergo sexual reproduction
and inherit one set of chromosomes from each
parent.
– We are diploid organisms.
– We have 2 sets of chromosomes.
– Each set consists of 23 chromosomes (n=23)
– For a total of 46 chromosomes in all of our cells EXCEPT
the reproductive cells.
 The human life cycle
Adult 46 46
46 Gametes
chromosomes Oocyte and sperm
Diploid 23 chromosomes
Meiosis Haploid

23

23

Mitosis copies the

46 chromosome
Two haploids make
cell over and over
a diploid
again
23 + 23 = 46
Fertilization forms a zygote
 Homologous chromosomes
• Chromosomes of the same type are said to be
homologous if….
– They have the same length
– Their centromeres are positioned in the
same place
– One came from the father (paternal
homolog) the other from the mother
(maternal homolog)
– When stained, they show similar
banding patterns:
• They have genes controlling the same traits
at the same positions.
 Human Chromosomes
• Humans have 24 different types of chromosomes
– 22 are autosomes 2 of each = 44 (2n)
– 2 are sex chromosomes (X and Y) XX or XY (2n)

• Humans (2n)=46, but (n)=23 in gametes

• Sister chromatids are copies of each other-they
contain exactly the same genetic information
• Homologous chromosomes contain genes for the
same traits but are not identical
 Mitosis

Somatic Cell Division

 Mitosis – 4 main steps
1. Prophase:

2. Metaphase

3. Anaphase

4. Telophase (and Cytokinesis)

How do we know which phase we are in?
•Changes that take place in the cell during
interphase cannot be seen with light microscopes
•Mitotic phases are defined by what the nucleus
looks like under light microscopy
 Prophase

•DNA condenses into chromosomes

•Nuclear membrane disappears
•Spindle fibers assemble
•Microtubules radiate out from the area of the
centrioles and look like stars-*Asters*
 End of Prophase (i.e. prometaphase)

• Nucleus fully broken down

• Kinetochore forms around

the centromere

• Microtubules extend from

the asters to the kinetochore
of each chromosome
 Metaphase
• Chromosomes attach to the
spindles and migrate to the
center of the cell

• During metaphase the

chromosomes are lined up in
the center of the cell
(division plan)

• Spindle fibers in place

 Anaphase

• Spindle fibers begin to

contract to break the
centromeres

• Sister chromatids
separate and are pulled
apart to opposite sides of
the cell.
 Telophase
• Identical chromosomes have
reached the opposite poles of
the cell.
• The nuclear membrane
reforms and the
chromosomes begin to
unwind back to chromatin.
• Marks the beginning of
cytokinesis
 Cytokinesis

Division into two cells

 Cytokinesis:
• Final separation of the 2 new daughter cells.

• In animal cells a cleavage furrow

appears between daughter nuclei
– Eventually pinches mother cell in two

• In plant cells cytokinesis begins with the formation of

the cell plate.
– Form a new plasma membrane
between the cells.
– The new membrane will
secrete a new cell wall.
 Mitosis Highlights
1. Prophase:
– Chromatin condenses to form chromosomes
– Nuclear membrane breaks down
2. Metaphase
– Chromosomes attached to spindle fibers and
migrates to align in center
3. Anaphase
– Sister chromatids pulled apart to opposite
poles (one chromosome each side)
4. Telophase (and Cytokinesis)
– Nucleus reforms/chromosomes unwind -
telophase
– Cytoplasm divides forming two genetically