Cell Cycle Stages Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Identify the 5 stages of the cell cycle.

Telophase, Interphase, Prophase, Anaphase, Metaphase

Describe what occurs during each stage of the cell cycle.

Telophase; The nuclear membrane forms and gets ready for division. Interphase; The growth and development of the cell. Prophase; The chromatids pair up; nuclear membrane dissolves & centrioles & spindle fibers go to opposite ends. Anaphase; The chromosomes separate by the spindle fibers pulling them apart. Metaphase; The paired chromatids line up in the center of the cell.

What stages of the cell cycle are included in interphase?

Telophase

What is cytokinesis?

The cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells. Signup and view all the answers

Predict what might happen if the cell never underwent cytokinesis.

If the cell underwent mitosis without cytokinesis, the cell would have a double set of chromosomes in it because it wouldn't have split and given the copy to the new cell. Additionally, you would have a multinucleated cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relaxed form of DNA found in the nucleus?

Chromatid Signup and view all the answers

In preparation for the cell to undergo mitosis, the chromatin condenses into what type of structure?

Chromosomes Signup and view all the answers

Define mitosis.

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth. Signup and view all the answers

List the 4 stages of mitosis in the correct sequence.

1 Prophase, 2 Metaphase, 3 Anaphase, 4 Telophase Signup and view all the answers

Describe the events that take place during prophase.

The chromatin condenses to become chromosomes, which will later be separated in various ways during the final stages of mitosis and meiosis. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the stage of mitosis in which the cell's chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.

Metaphase Signup and view all the answers

Describe the events that take place during anaphase.

The alignment of chromosomes at the center of the cell and the subsequent separation of sister chromatids to opposite mitotic spindle poles. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the events that take place during telophase.

During telophase, the final stage of mitosis (or the phase in which cells split apart), cell division is finishing up. The cell membrane closes, creating two separate cells. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference between plant and animal cells during cytokinesis.

During plant cell cytokinesis, a cell plate is formed, beginning the division of the cell wall and cytoplasm. During animal cell cytokinesis, the cleavage furrow is formed, which is a pinching in of the cell membrane, which begins the division of the cell's cytoplasm and cellular membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What activities are taking place in the cell during interphase?

G1 = gap one. The newly formed daughter cell grows by adding cytoplasm and organelles. The cell performs its normal activities, depending on what kind of cell it is. Some cells never divide, and they spend their entire lives in G1. S = synthesis. The DNA is replicated to prepare for cell division. G2 = gap two. The cell grows more to get ready to divide. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between DNA, a chromosome, and chromatin.

Both chromosomes and chromatin are DNA; however, they differentiate slightly. Chromatin is wound up DNA, and chromosomes are what DNA looks like when a cell is getting ready to divide. Signup and view all the answers

While looking through a microscope, you see a cleavage furrow develop. What stage is this cell in, and what type of cell is it?

The cleavage furrow is the indentation of the cell's surface that begins the progression of cleavage, by which animal and some algal cells undergo cytokinesis. Signup and view all the answers

How does mitosis and meiosis differ?

Mitosis occurs in somatic cells and meiosis occurs in reproductive cells. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how metaphase in mitosis differs from metaphase 1 in meiosis.

In metaphase 1 of meiosis, the mitotic spindle only attaches to one pair of chromosomes from one side, so that when anaphase occurs, that pair of chromosomes will end up on one side. Signup and view all the answers

Define crossing over. When does it occur?

Chromosomal crossover (or crossing over) is the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes that results in recombinant chromosomes during sexual reproduction. It occurs in the pachytene stage of prophase I of meiosis during a process called synapsis. Signup and view all the answers

Describe each stage during meiosis 1.

During prophase I, homologous chromosomes pair and form synapses; the paired chromosomes are called bivalents. Formation of chiasmata caused by genetic recombination becomes apparent. Signup and view all the answers

Compare meiosis 1 and meiosis 2.

Meiosis 1 results in 2 different cells with diploid (or duplicated haploids) chromosomes, whereas meiosis 2 results in 4 different haploid cells. Signup and view all the answers

Predict what might happen if the sister chromatids did not separate during anaphase 2.

If sister chromatids were not separated during mitosis, the daughter cells would not have an exact copy of the parent cell's chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

Infer how meiosis increases genetic variation.

Meiosis leads to increased genetic variation by reshuffling genes and creating random genes. Signup and view all the answers

Infer why mitosis does not increase genetic variation.

Mitosis leads to two identical daughter cells without genetic variation. Signup and view all the answers

What stage of mitosis is depicted?

Mitosis is the phase of the cell cycle where chromosomes in the nucleus are evenly divided between two cells. Signup and view all the answers

What stage of meiosis is depicted?

Meiosis is a two-part cell division process that produces sex cells with one half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cell Cycle Overview

The cell cycle consists of five stages: Telophase, Interphase, Prophase, Anaphase, and Metaphase.
Interphase involves cell growth and preparation for division; it's subdivided into G1 (growth), S (DNA synthesis), and G2 (preparation for mitosis).

Stages of Mitosis

Mitosis includes four main stages: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase.
Prophase: Chromatin condenses into chromosomes, nuclear membrane dissolves, and spindle fibers begin to form.
Metaphase: Chromosomes align along the cell's equator, facilitating even distribution to daughter cells.
Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles, pulled by spindle fibers.
Telophase: The nuclear membrane reforms around separated chromatids, marking the near completion of mitosis.

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is the physical process that divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two daughter cells.
In plant cells, a cell plate forms; in animal cells, a cleavage furrow develops.

Chromatin and Chromosomes

Chromatin is the relaxed form of DNA; it condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.
Chromosomes are symmetrical structures, each consisting of two sister chromatids connected at a centromere.

Differences Between Mitosis and Meiosis

Mitosis produces two genetically identical daughter cells from somatic cells, while meiosis produces four genetically different haploid cells from reproductive cells.
Meiosis includes two rounds of division: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.

Genetic Variation in Meiosis

Meiosis increases genetic diversity through crossing over (exchange of genetic material), occurring during prophase I.
The result of meiosis is unique genetic combinations in offspring, contributing to species variation.

Anomalies in Cell Division

Failure of cytokinesis leads to multinucleated cells, as no separation occurs after mitosis.
If sister chromatids do not separate during anaphase II, resulting daughter cells will have inaccurate chromosome numbers.

Key Terminology

Cytokinesis: Division of the cytoplasm following mitosis.
Chromatids: Two identical halves of a duplicated chromosome.
Synapsis: The pairing of homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis, crucial for genetic recombination.

Summary of Meiosis Stages

Meiosis I: Homologous chromosomes separate, resulting in two diploid cells.
Meiosis II: Sister chromatids separate, resulting in four haploid gametes.

Application

Understanding the stages of cell division is critical in fields such as genetics, developmental biology, and cancer research, where cell proliferation is a key factor.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the cell cycle with these flashcards. Identify the five stages and describe the key events that occur in each. Perfect for students studying biology and cell division.