8.1 and 8.

2 Group Assignment
Get to know your new Group!
Discuss the following questions with each other while one group member records. You can decide how/if to
change the person who is recording as you go through the questions. Make sure to introduce yourself by the
name you prefer if it is not your formal name!

1. What are three of each person’s favorite things?

Jamil: running, my job, friends

Daniel: Singing, dancing, acting
Ashlyn: Sports, my job, music

2. What are three of each person’s least favorite things?

Jamil: google meets

Daniel: Prejudice, bigotry, virtual learning
Ashlyn: school, waking up, what jamil said

3. What is a good and a bad thing that happened over break for each person?

Jamil: I spent time with my family and I worked a lot

Daniel: I got to spend more time with my family which is both good and bad
Ashlyn: I got to sleep more, but I also was really lazy
4. What is each person’s favorite tradition/thing that you do with your family?

Jamil: christmas morning breakfast

Daniel: Tasting different brands of eggnog
Ashlyn: opening gifts together

5. Group assignments are meant to be a discussion between all group members. What are some
rules/expectations you want to follow together in your group to make these group assignments
successful for everyone?

Two things NOT to do:

■ Completely ignore that this is a group assignment and do everything completely on your own
with no discussion
● Split the work up and only do the section the group assigned you and ignore the rest of the
assignment

Discuss the information together and decide as a group when to turn the assignment.
INTRODUCTION
This handout complements the Click & Learn The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer and is intended as an
in-depth examination of the cell cycle and the protein players involved. For a more general overview, please
see the overview version.

PROCEDURE
Follow the instructions as you proceed through the Click & Learn and answer the questions in the spaces
below.

PART 1. INTRODUCTION
Click on the “Background” tab on the right side.
1.Compare and contrast the reasons cell division is important for unicellular (single-celled) and multicellular
organisms.
For unicellular organisms, cell division is the only way that they can reproduce. For multicellular organisms,
cell division is mainly used when repairing or creating something in the organism.

2.Provide an example of why cell division remains important to an adult organism even after it is fully
developed.
Cell division remains important because when a cut or injury damages a cell, a new cell must be created in
order for the structure to continue its necessary function.

3.What is the role of growth factors?

Growth factors are molecular signals that tell a cell to divide.

4.Cells divide, differentiate, or die. What is differentiation?

Differentiation is when one cell becomes a more specialized type of cell.

5.What is apoptosis? Explain its purpose.

Apoptosis is when the cell programs itself for death. This used to get rid of unneeded and dangerous cells.

6.Organisms maintain the right number of cells by regulating the cell cycle. What are “cell cycle regulators?”
Cell cycle regulators send signals to cells, telling them to divide, differentiate, or die, in order to maintain the
correct number of cells

7.Watch the video clip of cells in the small intestine. Name the general location along the villus where the
following processes occur:
Cell Division:
In the crypt, a stem cell divides.

Cell Differentiation:
The cells born from the stem cell move up the crypt. Some are differentiating along the way.

Apoptosis:
 After moving all the way along the crypt and serving their purpose, the cells undergo apoptosis.

8.Name one harmless result of too little cell division.

Hair loss

9.Name one harmless result of too much cell division.

Warts appearing

PART 2
8.2 Group Assignment- Cell Cycle Interactive

PROCEDURE
Follow the instructions as you proceed through the Click & Learn and answer the questions in the spaces
below.

Click on the section of the circle labeled “Cell Cycle Phases” in the center purple circle on the right
and use the “Overview” information in the window on the left to answer the questions below.
10. List, in order, the four events we collectively call the “cell cycle.” Next to each event, write the correlating
cell cycle phase name.
Cell Cycle Phase Name Events That Occur

Growth/ First Gap DNA is analyzed and it is determined whether the cell should divide or if it should
Phase go into the G0 phase

DNA replication/ DNA is synthesized and carefully monitored for mistakes.

Synthesis Phase

Preparation to divide/ In this phase, DNA and organelles are checked for correctness and number.
Second Gap phase

Division/ Mitosis The cell divides into two daughter cells.

11.In general, what is the purpose of a checkpoint in the cell cycle?

The purpose of a checkpoint is to make sure that all processes are done in the phase.

12.What is one potential outcome when errors occur in this highly regulated cell cycle process?
One outcome is that cancer can develop.

Click on “Cell Cycle Regulators and Cancer” in the center purple circle on the right. Use the
information under “Regulators Overview” in the window on the left to answer the questions below.
13.What type of protein that regulates the cell cycle is encoded by proto-oncogenes?
Stimulating proteins

14.What type of protein that regulates the cell cycle is encoded by tumor suppressor genes?
Inhibitory proteins
15.The most important cell cycle regulators are the:
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).

16.What is a kinase, and what does it do?

Kinases are a type of enzyme that inhibit proteins by adding phosphates.

17.When are CDKs present inside the cell during the cell cycle?
CDKs are always present in the cell, but only become active when bound cyclins.

18.When are cyclins present inside the cell during the cell cycle?
Cyclins are always present but during different phases the concentration increases

19. CDKs form molecular complexes with cyclins. What do activated CDK-cyclin complexes do?
They become enzymes that can serve specific functions so it can modify proteins

Using the cell cycle diagram on the right and both links in the center purple circle, complete the table
below for each phase. Use bullet points and focus on major events that occur during each phase,
checkpoint, and regulatory process. Complete the entire row before moving on to the next phase.

Phase Phase Events Checkpoint Events Regulatory Processes

G1 ● Cell increases in ● If DNA is ● Growth factors cause the

size undamaged cyclin concentration to
● Prepares to replicate and enough rise
DNA resources ● The cyclins bind to the
are CDK causing the cell to
available go into the S phase
the cell
goes to the ● P53 causes the cell to
S phase stop progressing to the S
● If not, then phase and can commit
the cell will apoptosis if needed
die or go ● Rb prevents cells from
into G0 entering S phase in the
absence of signals from
growth factors.

S ● Cell replicates the ● DNA is ● Once the S-phase cyclin

DNA continuously concentration reaches
● Has two sets of monitored threshold, CDK-cyclin
chromosomes at the ● If DNA is signals the duplicate its
end synthesized DNA
correctly,
the cell ● ATM proteins cause the
proceeds to cell cycle to halt and
G2 activates other proteins to
repair the break
 G2 ● Cell continues to ● All ● Concentration of mitotic
grow chromosom cyclin rises and binds to
● Prepare for division es have to CDKs
be fully ● Inhibitory proteins prevent
replicated activation
and contain
no damage ● If DNA is damaged, p53
stops the cell cycle and
repairs the DNA.
● If the damage is
excessive, it can commit
apoptosis

M (mitosis) ● Cell stops growing ● Sister ● Cyclin and CDKs activate

● If checkpoint is chromatids anaphase-promoting
reached and must both complex/cyclosome
completed, two be attached (APC/C) proteins if the
sister chromatids to the checkpoint is confirmed
become mitotic correct
chromosomes and spindle ● This allows the cell to
separate enter the anaphase stage
● Cell divides into two of mitosis
equal daughter cells
● Inhibitory proteins include
two MAD (mitotic arrest
deficient) proteins
● Stops the cell from
entering anaphase if
chromosomes are not
attached to the mitotic
spindle correctly, which
helps detect incorrect
numbers of
chromosomes.

20. Go to “Cell Cycle Phases” and click on “Interphase.” The interphase alternates with mitosis. What happens
during interphase and what phases does it include?
During interphase, the cell executes its primary function in the body and also goes through the G1, S, and
G2 phases.

21. Go to “Cell Cycle Phases” and click on “G0.” The G0 phase is a resting or nondividing stage. What three
factors determine if a cell enters G0?
Three factors that determine if a cell enters the G0 phase are the type of cell, the organism's development,
and if there are sufficient resources or not.

22. Provide an example of a fully differentiated cell that is (a) permanently in G0 and (b) one that can leave G0
to progress through the cell cycle and divide again.

a. A muscle cell
 b. A liver cell

Click on “Cell Cycle Regulators and Cancer” in the center purple circle on the right. Then click on the
“Cancer Overview” tab in the window to the left (right tab).
23.Cancer is an improperly regulated cell cycle. Name two reasons why cells can form tumors.
Cells can form tumors because of too much replication or too little cell death.

24.What causes uncontrolled cell division at the genetic level?

Mutations in the cells that regulate cell division often cause errors in the control of division.

25.Watch the video clip. At the cellular level in this example, explain what occurs if the APC gene is mutated.
When the APC gene is mutated, the cells struggle to differentiate and therefore pile up and create a tumor.

26.Normally, proto-oncogenes stimulate the cell cycle. What do mutated proto-oncogenes (i.e., oncogenes)
cause?
They cause the cell cycle to occur more rapidly, resulting in more divisions.

27.Normally, tumor suppressor genes inhibit the cell cycle. What do mutated tumor suppressor genes cause?
Mutated tumor suppressor genes disallow the inhibition of the cell cycle, which leaves the cell cycle to
continue with nothing stopping it.

28.Fill in the missing information in the table below. To cause cancer, proto-oncogenes require ___ 1 (or) ___ 2
allele(s) to be mutated and are therefore considered ___ dominant (or) ___ recessive. This results in a
___________ of function.
One, dominant, gain

29.Fill in the missing information in the table below. To cause cancer, tumor suppressor genes require ___ 1
(or) ___ 2 allele(s) to be mutated and are therefore considered ___ dominant (or) ___ recessive. This results in
a ___________ of function.
2, recessive, loss

30.Watch the video clip.

a.Using the gas pedal analogy, explain the impact on the cell cycle of a proto-oncogene versus an oncogene.
Proto-oncogenes are similar to keeping the accelerator at a constant, controlled pace. When an oncogene is
present, it is like the body is putting pressure on the accelerator and losing control.

b.Using the brake pedal analogy, explain the impact on the cell cycle of one mutated tumor suppressor gene
allele versus two mutated tumor suppressor alleles.
A normal or single allele-mutated tumor suppressor gene functions as a brake in a car, but when there are
two mutated alleles, the brake does not work and the cell cycle no longer can stop with the use of the tumor
suppressor gene.