Cell Division Flashcards

All 12 cards in this deck

What are the stages of the cell cycle, in order?

Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis.

What happens during interphase?

DNA is replicated (chromosomes duplicate) and the cell grows, making more sub-cellular structures/proteins.

What are the steps of mitosis, from prophase to cytokinesis?

e.g. a body cell with 4 chromosomes divides

1. Prophase: chromosomes condense and become visible; nuclear membrane breaks down.

2. Metaphase then anaphase: chromosomes line up across the centre of the cell, then the copies are pulled to opposite poles by spindle fibres.

3. Telophase and cytokinesis: a nucleus re-forms at each pole and the cytoplasm divides, giving 2 cells each with 4 chromosomes.

Which stage of mitosis is a cell in when its chromosomes are lined up in a single row across the middle (equator) of the cell?

Metaphase.

The next stage, anaphase, pulls the copies to opposite ends.

True or false? Mitosis halves the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell.

False.

Each daughter cell is diploid, with an identical set of chromosomes to the parent cell (e.g. 46 in a human body cell).

Why is mitosis important in organisms?

It allows growth, repair of damaged tissues, and asexual reproduction.

What is cancer?

The result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled cell division.

What is a tumour?

A mass (lump) of cells formed by uncontrolled cell division.

True or false? Cancer cells divide by mitosis.

True.

They divide by mitosis, but the division is uncontrolled so a tumour forms.

What kind of change inside a cell can make it divide uncontrollably?

Changes (mutations) to the genes that control the cell cycle and cell division.

What is the formula for the number of cells produced from one cell after $n$ divisions by mitosis?
e.g. $n = 3$ divisions

$2^n$ cells
e.g. $2^3 = 8$ cells

True or false? A cell that divides by mitosis 3 times produces $3 \times 2 = 6$ cells.

False. The number of cells doubles at every division, so 3 divisions give $2^3 = 8$ cells.