BIOLOGY

CELL CYCLE – the life cycle of the cell.

- Series of growth and development steps a
cell undergoes in birth and reproduction.
STEPS OF THE CELL CYCLE:
1. INTERPHASE – indispensable in
making the next mitosis possible.
- Lasts 12-24 hours in mammalian tissue.
- Cell is consistently synthesizing RNA;
- Producing protein, and;
- Growing in size.
- 4 STEPS:
a. GAP 0 (G0) – times when the cell leaves the cycle and quits dividing.
- May be temporary or more permanent.
- A cell that has reached the end stage of development will no longer divide.
b. GAP 1 (G1) – cell increases in size.
- Produces RNA and synthesizes protein.
- G1 CHECKPOINT – an important cell cycle control mechanism ensures that everything
is ready for DNA synthesis.
c. S PHASE – aka SYNTHESIS.
- DNA replication occurs.
- The complete DNA instruction in the cell must be duplicated to produce to similar
daughter cells.
d. GAP 2 (G2) – during the gap between DNA synthesis and mitosis, the cell will
continue to grow and produce new proteins.
- G2 CHECKPOINT – located at the end to determine if the cell can enter Mitosis and
divide.
e. M PHASE – aka MITOSIS.
- Cell growth and protein production stops.
- The cell’s energy is focused on the complex and orderly division into 2 similar daughter
cells.
- Shorter than Interphase: 1-2 hours.
- METAPHASE CHECKPOINT – in the middle of mitosis: makes sure that the cell is
ready to complete cell division.

CELL DIVISION – in order to grow and multiply, has 2 types:

1. MITOSIS – process of nuclear
division;
- Two genetically identical daughter
cells with the same number of
chromosomes are produced.
- Happens in body or somatic cells.
- Each daughter cell is diploid with a
complete set of chromosomes (2n),
similar to the parent cell.
 A. PROPHASE – long, thread-like chromatin starts to
coil and become more visible as individual
chromosomes.
- Membrane of the nucleus dissolves and spindle fibers are
formed.
- Centrioles migrate at opposite poles of the cell.

B. METAPHASE – chromosomes move and align

themselves at the center of the cell – aka metaphase
plate.
- Spindle fibers connect each chromosome on its
centromere to the centriole located at opposite poles.

C. ANAPHASE – sister chromatids of each

chromosome divides.
- The chromatids move toward the opposite pole due to
the shortening of the spindle fiber.

D. TELOPHASE – chromatids are now located on

the opposite poles.
- Nuclear membranes form around the
chromosomes and will start to uncoil.
- The spindle fiber dissolves and disappears.

E. CYTOKENESIS – splitting of the

cytoplasm.
- Mitosis ends.

2. MEIOSIS – process where a diploid parent cell produces four unique haloid cells.
- Reduces the number of chromosomes each daughter cell will receive.
- Haploid cells will become diploid cells due to fertilization.
a. DIPLOID (2n) – cell with a complete set of chromosomes.
- Half comes from the parent and half from
the other.
b. HAPLOID (n) – cell with a half
complete set of chromosomes
c. HOMOLOGOUS
CHROMOSOMES – pairs of
partnered chromosomes.
- One maternal chromosome has a male counterpart.
- They have similar length, genes, and centromere.
A. STAGES OF MEIOSIS 1 – homologous chromosomes separate.

1. PROPHASE I – spindle fibers are formed and

will be attached to the chromosomes.
- SYNAPSIS – extra process where individual
chromosomes become visible and homologous
chromosomes pair up = tetrads form.
- Non-sister chromatids of the homologous
chromosomes shuffle and rearrange genetic
material – genetic variation happens.

2. METAPHASE I – tetrads align at the

metaphase plate.
3. ANAPHASE I – tetrads break up, and
homologous chromosomes segregate
randomly.
- Homologous chromosomes move towards the
opposite poles.

4. TELOPHASE I AND CYTOKENESIS –

2 haploid cells are produced in preparation
for MEIOSIS II.

B. STAGES OF MEIOSIS II – sister chromatids separate.

- Cells in meiosis II are haploid.
1. PROPHASE II – spindle fibers form and attach to the chromosomes.
2. METAPHASE II – chromosomes align at the center.
3. ANAPHASE II – sister chromatids separate.
4. TELOPHASE II and CYTOKENESIS – chromosomes uncoil and unfold.
- Nuclear membrane reappears.
GAMETOGENESIS – formation of gametes.