BBIO053 Lab 4 – Mitosis

The process of mitosis is the same for plant and animal cells, with the exception of cytokinesis and the
involvement of centrioles in formation of the spindle (in animal cells only). Since plant cells have a non-
living cell wall made of cellulose surrounding every cell, when plant cells undergo cytokinesis they
cannot simply undergo cleavage furrowing in the way that animal cells do. Plant cells form a structure
called a cell plate across the equator of the cell in telophase. This structure deposits the new cell wall
and forms the new cell membrane on either side of the cell plate by fusion of vesicles in the cytoplasm
on either side of this new cell wall. The cell plate can be visible as a prominent straight line across the
centre of the spindle in plant cell cytokinesis. Although we focus on animal cell processes in BBIO 053,
the chromosomes are much denser and more easily distinguishable in onion root tip cells, so we are
looking at both types of cell in this lab.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided.

1. Provide a general description of what the process of mitosis involves (no need to detail individual
stages).
Mitosis occurs in Eukaryotic cells when the nucleus of the cell divides into two. As a result, the parent
cell splits into two daughter cells. As a result of each cell being divided into two parts:
• Cytokinesis - Cytokinesis is the process by which the cytoplasm of a cell divides.
• Karyokinesis - The division of the nucleus.
2. Name the phases of mitosis, and describe the characteristics of each phase. In this
exercise the descriptions of what you see in the slides is just as important as the drawings
that you create.

The steps of mitosis are as follows: chromosomes coil and thicken, while the nucleus and nuclear
membrane contract, eventually vanishing. The mitotic process begins at this phase and concludes
when a cluster of fibers collects to form the spindle fibers. Metaphase 2 • During this time phase, the
chromosomes get thicker. • The two chromatids of each chromosome seem to be separate from one
another. • Each chromosome is connected to its controller's spindle fibers. • The chromosomes of a
cell are arranged along the cell's centerline. In anaphase, each chromatid pair breaks from the
centromere and travels to the cell's opposite end through the spindle fiber. At this step, the cell
membrane is pressed into the cell's core, resulting in cell division.
The development of two daughter nuclei at opposite ends of the cell as a consequence of the
nucleolus and nuclear membrane reforming; • The removal of the spindles; • The production of
chromatin fibers as a result of the uncoiling of daughter chromosomes; Next mitosis, the following
stage is called interphase. This is a stage of the cell cycle during which the cell does not divide and
occurs between two successive cell divisions. The interphase is the time period during which the
majority of a cell's activity occurs. Three steps comprise this procedure: G1, S, and G2.

Start the lab presentation and look at slide 1 for the onion root tip slide. Use the links at the bottom of
the screen to navigate to other slides. The cells, particularly the whitefish cells, could be in any
orientation. You may be looking at a polar view of the cell (from the top) or at an equatorial view
(from the side). The pictures that you see in texts (and on the first slide in the presentation) are
idealized. Mitosis is a continuous process and we are looking at “snap shots” of the process. Bear this
in mind as you search for the stages of mitosis.

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 By looking specifically at the chromosomes or nucleus of individual cells, find a cell in Interphase
or in one of the specific stages of Mitosis (you will find all stages, but can do your drawings in any
order). Draw a biological diagram of that specific cell, in the appropriate grid below or on the next
pages, showing what you actually see. Use the grid to identify the cells in the diagram on the slide.
The grid on the slide will have letters across the top and numbers along the side: so A1 will be the
upper left portion of the slide. Use these letters on your drawing to identify which cell and region of
the slide you used to create your drawing. If you have not previously done Biological Drawings, the
instructions are posted in eLearn with this lab for a reminder.

If you are unable to print this page and draw directly onto the grid provided below, use a separate page
for your drawings, save them as pdf files and upload them with your report.

Onion Root Tip Interphase Whitefish blastula: Interphase

BBIO053 Lab 4 - Mitosis Page 2 of 5

Onion root: Prophase Whitefish: Prophase

Onion root: Metaphase Whitefish: Metaphase

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Onion root: Anaphase Whitefish: Anaphase

Onion root: Telophase and cytokinesis Whitefish: Telophase and cytokinesis

BBIO053 Lab 4 - Mitosis Page 4 of 5

 Questions

1. The slides were made with onion root tip and developing whitefish eggs. What is the reason
that these particular samples were used?
Due to the fast division of cells in the whitefish embryo as it develops and matures, it is a great model for
understanding the process of mitosis in general. As a result, mitosis is a relatively insignificant process in
cells capable of splitting, such as the whitefish embryo and the onion root tip, among others. The mitotic
process may take many hours to finish.
2. Will the two sets of chromosomes in daughter cells always be identical?
Each nucleus now has four chromosomes (two sets of two chromosomes) in it, just like the cell from
which it came. The cell's cytoplasm then splits in two to make two new cells. Because each of the
daughter cells has the same number of diploid chromosomes as the original parent cell, they are
genetically the same.
3. In the video of a live cell undergoing mitosis, is the cell a plant or animal cell. Explain your
choice.

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