Essential Knowledge: 3.A.1 DNA, and in some cases RNA, is the primary source of heritable information.
A. Genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next through DNA or RNA.
a. Explain how genetic information is organized in a eukaryotic cells throughout the cell
cycle.
Essential Knowledge: 3.A.2 In eukaryotes, heritable information is passed to the next generation via
processes that include the cell cycle and mitosis or meiosis plus fertilization.
A. The cell cycle is a complex set of stages that is highly regulated with checkpoints, which
determine the ultimate fate of the cell.
1. Describe the events of Interphase. Identify phases and describe what events are taking
place each each phase.
2. Describe how the cell cycle is regulated. Identify internal control / checkpoints. Explain
what is being “checked” or what must take place to proceed in the cell cycle. Be sure to
explain the role of the following:
a. Mitosis-promoting factor (MPF)
b. Action of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
c. Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases
3. Describe what happens when control of the cell cycle is lost. How does Cancer impact the
cell cycle?
4. Describe the G0 phase. What types of cell are found in this phase? What occurs in phase?
Can cells exit this phase?
B.
Mitosis passes a complete genome from the parent to the daughter cells.
1. When does mitosis occur? Why does it occur? What follows mitosis? What is the end
product?
2. Describe the events of mitosis. Identify observable structural features that occur during this
process. Be sure to differentiate between plant and animal structures.
3. Describe how prokaryotes replicate. Describe evolutionary progression from prokaryotes
cell division to cell division found in most eukaryotes.