November 1, 2020

CERIO, MARY GRACE E. BEED-3 NAT SC 1( 3:00-4:30-TTH)

MIDTERM Performance Task #1

CELL DIVISION

1. Differentiate the cell division of a somatic cell from a division of a

germ cell.

 A somatic cell is any cell of the body except sperm and egg cells.
Somatic cells are diploid, meaning that they contain two sets of
chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. Somatic cells
produced through the process of mitosis and cytokinesis while the
germ cells only contain one set of chromosomes and the process of
germ cell is is produced through meiosis.

2. Differentiate a chromosome from a chromatid.

 A chromosome is the genetic material present in all the cells. They
are present in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. They are a thread-like
structure.Chromatid is one of two identical halves of a replicated
chromosome. During cell division, the chromosomes first replicate
so that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.
Following DNA replication, the chromosome consists of two
identical structures called sister chromatids, which are joined at the
centromere.

3. Discuss the significance of cell division to the following:

 Growth of an organism
 The significance of cell division to the growth of an organism is that all
multicellular organisms use cell division for growth and the
maintenance and repair of cells and tissues. Cell division is tightly
regulated because the occasional failure of regulation can have life-
threatening consequences. Single-celled organisms use cell division
as their method of reproduction.
 Repair of worn out tissues
 Regeneration and replacement of worn-out and damaged tissues is a
very important function of mitosis in living organisms. Mitosis helps
in the production of identical copies of cells and thus helps in
repairing the damaged tissue or replacing the worn-out cells.
 Reproduction in unicellular organisms.

Unicellular organisms reproduce by the following ways:

 The unicellular organisms reproduce by binary fission. In this,

a single cell divides, giving rise to two daughter cells. This can be seen in
bacteria and amoeba.
 The yeast cells reproduce by the process called budding.
 Sometimes amoeba reproduces by the process called
encysting. During unfavourable conditions, it forms a protective
covering around itself called a cyst. This cyst contains chitin that helps it
to reproduce.


4. What makes meiosis a special type of cell division?

 Meiosis is the form of eukaryotic cell division that

produces haploid sex cells or gametes (which contain a single copy
of each chromosome) from diploid cells (which contain two copies
of each chromosome). The process takes the form of one DNA
replication followed by two successive nuclear and cellular divisions
(Meiosis I and Meiosis II). As in mitosis, meiosis is preceded by a
process of DNA replication that converts each chromosome into two
sister chromatids.