Practical 5: CELL DIVISIONS: MITOSIS & MEIOSIS

This summary presents the basic information and events happen during the division of the cell.

- The cell division is needed for growth, replacement of cells that are lost by wear and tear or by
programmed cell death; or to produce the elements for the sexual reproduction.
- Mitosis and meiosis are two processes of cell division that are different in nature and purpose.

1. MITOSIS

- Produces two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell.

- Allows multicellular organisms to grow and repair damaged tissue.

- Mitosis: DRAW
 Interphase (G1 and G2): Chromosomes (Chromatin) are not visible because they are
uncoiled.
 Prophase (occurs in 1h): Chromatin coils tightly & becomes visible under microscope
(i.e. chromosomes); nuclear membrane disintegrates; centrioles migrate to poles;
mitotic spindle begins to form.
 Metaphase (occurs in 15m): The chromosomes are mostly condensed and become
aligned in to one row at the equatorial plate of the spindle.; For each chromosome,
the kinetochores of sister chromatids are attached to kinetochore microtubules
coming from opposite poles; Cell preparing to separate its chromosomes.
 Anaphase (occurs in 10m): Kinetochore microtubules shorten (to separate sister
chromatids); Non-kinetochore microtubules lengthen (to elongate the cell); Sister
chromatids move toward opposite poles of the spindle.
 Telophase: The chromosomes relax again. The spindle apparatus breaks down; the
nuclear membrane reappears surrounding each group of separated chromosomes
and the cell divides into two cells via a process called cytokinesis.

2. MEIOSIS
- Produces daughter cells (haploid) which have a half of the number of chromosomes present in their
parent cell (diploid).
- This process leads to the reduction in the number of identical chromosomes from two into one.
- Each daughter cell produced by meiosis still possesses a single full set of chromosome. 2N -> N
- Enables organisms to reproduce sexually because the fusion of two haploid gametes (sperm and eggs)
via fertilization process restores the diploidy in the zygote.
- Happens in anthers (bao phấn) and in ovules (noãn) -> plants
Testes (male) and ovaries (female) -> animals

Meiosis I: involves the separation of identical chromosomes, which have been in duplicated form, into
two daughter cells.
 Prophase I: The chromosomes coil up and appear as duplicated chromosomes. The nuclear
membrane begins to disintegrate and the spindle forms. Crossing over between homologous
chromosomes can take place during this phase.
• Metaphase I: Bivalents of homologous chromosomes (tetrads) become aligned in the center of the cell
and are attached to spindle fibers.
• Anaphase I: begins when homologous chromosomes separate, whereby chromosomes of each
identical pair will move towards different poles of the spindle.
• Telophase I: The nuclear envelope reforms and nucleoli reappears. This stage is absent in some
species. • Interkinesis: Interkinesis is similar to interphase except DNA synthesis does not occur.

Meiosis II: involves the separation of sister chromatids and each daughter cell is further divided into two
cells. At the end of the meiosis, therefore, four haploid daughter cells will be produced.
• Prophase II: The duplicated chromosomes recondense. Nuclear membrane disintegrates again while
formation of spindle is seen in each daughter cell.
• Metaphase II: The duplicated chromosomes line up into one row at the equatorial plate of each
spindle. • Anaphase II: Sister chromatids start to separate towards opposite poles of the spindle.
• Telophase II: Nuclear envelope reforms around each single set of chromosome at each cell pole. Cell is
further divided and finally four daughter cells are produced. The chromosomes return to relax.