UNIT 1: CELL DIVISION

PART 1: MITOSIS AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

MITOSIS 1
PART 1: MITOSIS AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Key words:
• Cell division
• Asexual reproduction
• Interface
• Cancer
• Mitosis
 1.1.1. NECESSITY OF CELL DIVISION

• Living things are made up of cell or cells.

Cells can only be formed by division of
pre-existing cells.
• There are two types of cell divisions,
mitosis and meiosis.
• As the volume of the cell increases so
does the surface area however not to the
same extent. When the cell gets bigger its
surface are to volume ratio gets smaller.
After this stage the cell divides.
The effect of cytoplasm and
nucleus on cell division has been
demonstrated by the amoeba
experiment.
• DNA is made up of building blocks called nucleotides.
Genes are short pieces of DNA that carry specific
genetic information. All the genes in an organism are also
called the genome.
• The complex of DNA and proteins making up
chromosomes is called chromatin. Chromatins, which
are thin, long threads, are paired before the cell divides.
As a cell prepares to divide, the chromosomes form
loops and coil, condensing and becoming thick.
• Each eukaryotic species has a characteristic number of
chromosomes. For example, a typical human cell (Homo
sapiens) has 46 chromosomes, a fruit fly cell (Drosophila
melanogaster) has 8 chromosomes.
• The chromosome number is not correlated to
the complexity of an organism. For example,
amoeba has 250, pigeon has 80 chromosomes.
• The circular DNA molecule possessed by
prokaryotic cells is also called chromosome.
• Each duplicated chromosome consists of two
sister chromatids, which are joined copies of
the original chromosome. Each sister chromatid
has a centromere, a region where the
chromatid is attached most closely to its sister
chromatid. A kinetochore is the patch of
protein found on the centromere of each
Structure of chromosome
chromatid. (https://lk.tc/7CIem)
 1.1.2 MITOSIS

• Mitosis is the type of nuclear division that occurs during growth and asexual
reproduction.
• A cell cycle is a series of events that takes place in a cell as it grows and divides. The
cell cycle is composed of interphase (G₁, S, and G₂ phases), followed by the mitotic
phase (karyokinesis and cytokinesis).
Karyokinesis:
• Prophase
• Metaphase
• Anaphase
• Telophase
 INTERPHASE

• The mitotic phase alternates with a much longer

stage called interphase, which often accounts for
about 90% of the cycle.
• Interphase is a very active phase in the life of cell
when many metabolic reactions occur. During
interphase the volume of the cell and the
numbers of mitochondria in the cytoplasm
increase.
• Interphase begins when the cytokinesis phase is
completed and continues until mitosis begins. In
animal cells, the centrosome replicates itself
during interphase. There is no centrosome in
plant cells.
• Interphase can be divided into three phases: the G1 phase (“first gap”), the S phase
(“synthesis”), and the G2 phase (“second gap”).

https://lk.tc/t0DqU
• G1 is the most variable in length in different types of
cells. Initially in G1 phase, the cell grows physically
and increases the volume of both protein and
organelles. Chromosomes are not duplicated during
G1.
• Duplication of the chromosomes, crucial for
eventual division of the cell, occurs entirely during
the S phase.
• Some do not progress beyond G1 , because they are
never going to divide so do not need to prepare for
mitosis. They enter a phase called G0 which may be
temporary or permanent.
• Finally, G2 phase involves further cell growth and
organisation of cellular contents.
(https://lk.tc/S6fOM)
Mastering biology: animation the cell cycle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ndCkwCG2H4)
 • Pearson Baccalaureate Standard Level, Biology
Second edition
• Campbell Biology, 12th edition, ( Lisa A. Urry,
Michael l. Cain etc. ) -Pearson 2021
• Biology HL - Damon, McGonegal Tosto and
Ward - Second Edition - Pearson 2014.pdf
• Cambridge IGCSE Biology book, Mary Jones
and Geoff Jones
REFERENCES/
• Oxford IB Diploma Programme ,Biology
RESOURCES 2014th edition, Course companion, Andrew
Allot, David Mindorff
• Cambridge for the IB Diploma Biology book,
second edition, Brenda Walpole