Mitosis

 Describe the differences between prokaryotic

and eukaryotic cells

 Label organelles a, b and c in the diagram

below:
 New cells are formed by a process
called cell division
 Cell division:
o Allows genetic information to be
passed from generation to
generation
o Provides a way for MCOs to grow
and develop from a fertilised
ovum
o Makes new cells available in MCOs
to replace dead or damaged cells
o Allows UCOs to reproduce
 o A cell that divides is called a parent cell
o For a cell to divide to form two functional cells of the same
type, one copy of the parent cell’s DNA must be passed onto
both new cells. These events need to happen for this to take
place:

o Copying of the parent cell’s DNA (DNA replication)

o The two copies of DNA need to move to opposite ends of the
parent cell
o The parent cell must divide into two cells (daughter cells)
o Cells produced in this way are genetically identical to their
parent cell and to each other
 Mitosis
Occurs in multicellular organisms (e.g. plants,
animals, yeast ) and unicellular eukaryotes
(amoeba).

It produces 2 daughter cells that are identical

to the parent cell, so that the DNA (genetic
make up) carries through to all cells.

Occurs in all cells of the body (somatic cells)

apart from sex cells (division in the sex cells
is called meiosis)
 Mitosis
Mitosis is cell
division which
allows
multicellular
organisms to
grow and
develop from
a zygote
Also occurs to
repair
damaged cells
 Cell cycle
 Prior to cell division, the
cell’s DNA is replicated so
that two copies of it exist
 Mitosis
Is divided into 4 stages:

 Prophase
 Metaphase

 Anaphase

 Telophase
 Mitosis: End of Interphase, Early
Prophase
(not considered a stage but
essential for mitosis)

 Before division, during the end of

interphase, chromatin condenses
to form chromosomes (visible
under light microscope

 Each chromosome is duplicated

so it consists of 2 identical sister
chromatids, joined together at
the centromere

 Visibility of these chromosomes

indicated prophase has begun
Mitosis: 1. Prophase
PROPHASE STEPS

 Nuclear envelope
disintegrates
 Nucleoli disappears
 Chromosomes move into
cytoplasm
 ‘Spindle Apparatus’ forms
 Centrioles divide and move
to ends of the cell to
become poles of the
spindle
 Spindle apparatus
(consists of spindle fibres)
and centrioles are made of
microtubule (proteins),
part of the cytoplasm
 Mitosis: 2. Metaphase
METAPHASE STEPS

 Spindle apparatus
radiate from poles
towards the cell’s
equator (or
metaphase plate,
imaginary line midway
through the cell)

 Chromosomes (pairs
of chromatids) align
along metaphase plate

 Spindles attached to
centromeres
Mitosis: 3. Anaphase
ANAPHASE STEPS

 Separation of sister
chromatids and they move
towards opposite poles

 Microtubules (spindle
fibres) are attached to
centromeres and contract
pulling apart chromatids

 Results in identical set of

genetic material around
each pole
 Mitosis: 4. Telophase
TELOPHASE STEPS

 Nuclei and nucleoli

reappear, the spindle
breaks down

 Chromosomes uncoil to
form chromatin,
mitosis complete

 Cytokinesis then
follows (cells split into
2)
Mitosis: Cytokinesis
 Binary fission
Most unicellular organisms that are prokaryotic
reproduce by a type of cell division called binary fission
Prior to binary fission, DNA replication occurs so that two
copies of it exist. Thereafter, the events are:

o Each parent cell’s DNA coils to form two identical circular

chromosomes (condensation)

o Each chromosome attaches to the inside of the parent cell

membrane
o The two chromosomes are moved to opposite ends of the
parent cell as it grows lengthways

The cell membrane of the parent cell grows inwards and a new cell
wall is formed over the outside of it; parent cell divides into two
Mitosis
M
I
T
O
S
I
S
 Diploid cells
 Diploid cells contain a full
set of chromosomes
 With the exception of
sperm and egg cells, all
cells in humans are diploid

In diploid cells, the

chromosomes are in pairs.
Each is the same in size and
structure, one coming from
the mother (maternal) and
one from the father
(paternal chromosome)
The two chromosomes that
form the pair are called
homologous chromosomes
 Karyotyping
Diploid human cells carry 23
pairs of chromosomes: 22
pairs of homologous
chromosomes and one pair of
sex chromosomes

Photographing the different

chromosomes and arranging
them in numbered
homologous pairs is called
karyotyping

XX – female
XY - male
 Haploid cells
Sperm and egg cells do not
carry a full set of
chromosomes. Instead, they
have 23 chromosomes (not
23 pairs of chromosomes)

Haploid sperm and eggs are

also called gametes
 Cancer
 There is a constant cycle of
mitosis ongoing in MCOs
 Sometimes, the process of
cell division can be
disturbed and cells may
divide in an uncontrolled
way to form tumours. This
is cancer
 Centrosome: The centrosome, or MICROTUBULE ORGANIZING
CENTER (MTOC), is an area in the cell where microtubules are
produced. Plant and animal cell centrosomes play similar roles in
cell division, and both include collections of microtubules, but the
plant cell centrosome is simpler and does not have centrioles.
 During animal cell division, the centrioles replicate (make new
copies) and the centrosome divides. The result is two
centrosomes, each with its own pair of centrioles. The two
centrosomes move to opposite ends of the nucleus, and from each
centrosome, microtubules grow into a "spindle" which is
responsible for separating replicated chromosomes into the two
daughter cells.
 Centriole (animal cells only): Each centriole is a ring of nine
groups of fused microtubules. There are three microtubules in
each group. Microtubules (and centrioles) are part of the
cytoskeleton. In the complete animal cell centrosome, the two
centrioles are arranged such that one is perpendicular to the
other.