Cell reproduction –one of the important attributes of life.

With cell reproduction through cell division, cells grow and develop, cells increase in number, damaged and worn out
tissues are repaired and replaced. In unicellular organisms, they also increase their kind.
If all is well, in the next minute of our life, 3B cells will die. But 3 B new cells will also be created at that same minute.

Cell Cycle –describes the life history of the cell. It refers to the life span of the cell. It is the period from the beginning of
one cell division to the next cell division. It varies from one cell to another. Cell cycle may take minutes, hours, days or
even years or the lifetime of the body.

Cell cycle has three stages:

Interphase- the period of cell growth during which the DNA in the nucleus replicates.
Mitosis- period during which the nucleus divides with its genetic material.
Cytokinesis-period during which the cytoplasm divides into two genetically identical daughter cells as the parent cells.

Cell division marks the beginning of the cell cycle. and there are three types of division: binary fission in unicellular
organisms, mitosis and meiosis in multi-cellular organisms.

Chromosomes in the nucleus contain genetic information that determines the cell’s structure, shape and function. The
genetic information is composed of DNA and organized into units called genes.

The Interphase Stage

1. GI or Gap I -period of growth, cell organelles, membranes and ribosomes are constructed. Centrioles replicate;
represents the first gap between cell division and S phase.

2. S or synthesis phase- DNA replication or synthesis; DNA doubles or chromosomes duplicated. This phase is
essential to ensure that the daughter cells are genetically alike with the parent cell.

3. G2 or Gap2- After cell growth and DNA synthesis, centrioles start to move apart as a prelude to mitosis. -Second
gap bet cell division and S phase; the structure necessary for mitosis are assembled.

Human cells grown in the laboratory spent most of their time during the interphase stage; about 18to 24 hrs.
Only 1 hr is spent for cell division (mitosis and cytokinesis).

Life history of cells varies for different cell types.

Bone marrow cells must divide regularly to form blood cells.2B RBC per second.. (no nucleus).
Some cells never divide; WBC stopped in G1. It only divides in response to infection;
Cancer cells/tumor cells –disease of the cell cycle. They divide tremendously when cells escape from the controls.

When a cell reaches the end of G2, it begins division.

During division, two important steps are completed. 1) a complete set of chromosomes is distributed to each daughter
cell; 2) cytoplasm is more or less distributed equally to two daughter.

End result of mitosis is the formation of daughter cells with 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs similar to the parent cell.
STAGES OF MITOSIS
Prophase
Marks the beginning of mitosis
Before prophase chromosomes appear as long, thin, and intertwined threads or chromatin threads
 Chromosome condense or coil becoming shorter and thicker rod
Nuclear membrane and nucleoli are dissolved or disintegrate.
Burst of microtubules called asters begin to radiate from centrioles.
Two centriole pair move apart toward the opposite poles.
Human cell with 46 chromosomes
At the end of prophase, each chromosome consists of a pair of longitudinal strands called chromatids held
together by a centromere.

Metaphase
Begins when the chromosomes with the spindle fibers attached, move to the middle of the equatorial
plate. With 46 centromeres, each attached to 2 sister chromatids

Anaphase
The microtubules are instrumental in moving the chromosome toward the poles.
Centromere divides connecting each sister chromatid into a chromosome
Shortest stage of mitosis
Division is essential for ensuring that each daughter cell receives a complete and identical set of 46
chromosomes.

centromere malfunction -Roberts syndrome (person with no limbs)

Telophase
Chromosomes reach opposite poles; they decondense (uncoil) and lose their rod-like characteristics. They
appear as they did during interphase; spindle fibers break down; membranes of
ER begin to form new nuclear membrane; cell begins to pinch in at the miidle. New nucleoli form.

At this point mitosis is completed. Mitosis is complete but cell division is not.

Cytokinesis
Starts during mitosis; constriction tightens by contraction of filament;just under the plasma membrane
which divides the cell into 2;distribute organelles to two daughter cells.

Cells grown in the lab undergo a characteristic number of divisions.

Hayflick limit is reached, the cell stops dividing.

Meoisis -genetic information we inherit comes from sperm and egg.

Before cell enters meiosis, the chromosome replicate during interphase.

Differences between mitosis and meoisis

• MITOSIS
• Parental cells are diploid.
• Doubled chromosomes appear in late prophase.
• Unpaired chromosomes align at metaphase.
• Sister chromatids separate at anaphase.
• Two daughter cells are diploid, genetically identical to parent cell.

• MEIOISIS
• Parental cells are diploid.
• Doubled chromosomes appear in late prophase.
• Paired homologous chromosomes align at metaphase I then separate at anaphase I
• Sister chromatids separate at anaphase II.
• Four daughter cells are haploid, not genetically identical to parent cell.