MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTICS

CHAPTER 2
Molecular Diagnosis of Chromosomal Disorders
• spindle fibers attached to kinetochores shorten and pull
OUTLINE chromatids towards the poles.
• free spindle fibers lengthen and push the poles of the cell apart
A.
4. Telophase
I. THE CELL CYCLE • spindle fibers disintegrate
Surface area must allow for adequate exchange of materials. • nuclear envelopes form around both groups
– Cell growth is coordinated with division. of chromosomes
– Cells that must be large have unique shapes. • chromosomes revert to their extended state
• cytokinesis occurs, enclosing each daughter nucleus into a
II. MITOSIS AND CYTOKINESIS separate cell
Cells divide during mitosis and cytokinesis.
5. Cytokinesis
A. Mitosis Plant vs. Animal Cell
Division of somatic cells (non-reproductive cells) in eukaryotic • Plant cells undergo cytokinesis by forming a cell plate between
organisms. the two daughter nuclei.
A single cell divides into two identical daughter cells. • Animal cells undergo cytokinesis through the formation of a
Daughter cells have same number of chromosomes as does parent cleavage furrow. A ring of microtubules contract, pinching the
cell. cell in half.

Packing for the move... III. PARTS OF THE CHROMOSOMES

When the cell is not dividing...
• DNA molecules are in extended, uncondensed form = chromatin A. Mitosis
• Cell can only replicate and transcribe DNA when it is in the
extended state.
When the cell is preparing for division...
•
DNA molecules condense to form chromosomes prior to division.
• each chromosome is a single molecule of DNA
• easier to sort and organize the replicated DNA into daughter
cells

4 sub-phases:
1st – Prophase
2nd – Metaphase
3rd – Anaphase
4th – Telophase
followed by
Cytokinesis

1. Prophase
Three Major Events
condensing chromosomes
centrioles
1. (spindle fibers are specialized microtubules radiating out from
centrioles)
1. chromosomes condense
2. spindlefibersform
3. chromosomesarecapturedbyspindle

Mitotic spindle contains 3 main types of fibers:

(1) polar fibers
(2) kinetochore fiber (3) astral fibers

2. Metaphase
chromosomes align along the equator of the cell, with one
chromatid facing each pole

3. Anaphase
sister chromatids separate