Cell Cycle and Cell Division Quiz

Cell Cycle Overview

• The cell cycle is a series of events that lead to cell growth and division, essential for development and maintenance of all living organisms.

Main Stages of the Cell Cycle

• Eukaryotic cells undergo two primary stages:
  • Interphase: the phase where the cell prepares for division.
  • M Phase (Mitotic Phase): includes mitosis and cytokinesis, where actual cell division occurs.

Interphase Details

• Interphase consists of three sub-phases:
  • G1 Phase (Gap 1): cell grows, synthesizes proteins, and produces organelles.
  • S Phase (Synthesis): DNA replication occurs, resulting in two identical sets of chromosomes.
  • G2 Phase (Gap 2): further growth and preparation for mitosis, ensuring all components are ready for division.

Control Mechanisms

• Checkpoints are control mechanisms that monitor and regulate the progression of the cell cycle, ensuring proper replication and division of cellular components.
• Key checkpoints occur at:
  • G1 to S transition: checks for DNA damage and cell size.
  • G2 to M transition: checks for DNA integrity and replication completeness.
  • Metaphase stage during mitosis: ensures chromosomes are properly aligned before separation.

Cell Division Process

• Cell division is called cytokinesis when a parent cell divides into two daughter cells, marking the final stage of the cell cycle after mitosis.
• Mitosis consists of several phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, ensuring equal distribution of chromosomes to the daughter cells.