Cell Cycle and Mitosis Tutorial
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Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
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What is the Cell Cycle?
Resting Cell
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All cells go through a series of
events in their life. Cells grow,
divide, perform their necessary
function, divide some more, and
eventually die.
As they grow and divide, a series of
changes take place in order for
the cell to properly divide. These
stages are known as the cell
cycle.
Two “Daughter” Cells
As a cell progresses through the
Cell Cycle it will enter the mitosis
stage in the life of the cell. This is
where the nucleus and cell
divide to make two daughter
cells.
Daughter Cells
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Resting Cell
Two “Daughter” Cells
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Daughter cell is the name given to the
two cells that exist when the process
is finished. Because the DNA in each
cell should be an exact copy, the two
cells should be genetically identical.
The steps that took place to create
these two daughter cells is what this
tutorial will address.
The Cell Cycle can be broken down into 5
major steps:
1. Interphase
2. Prophase
3. Metaphase
4. Anaphase
Proceed to
Interphase
5. Telophase
Interphase
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The first stage of the Cell Cycle can
be subdivided into three
separate stages. As you can see
in the picture, the majority of
the life of the cell will be the
Interphase stage. In some cells,
the Interphase stage can last
decades.
Examine the pie graph. What
percentage of time is spent in
Interphase?
0%
Look again. What is 3
sections out of 4?
25%
Look again. What is 3
sections out of 4?
50%
Look again. What is 3
sections out of 4?
75%
Correct
100%
Look again. What is 3
sections out of 4?
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Interphase (G1 Stage)
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G1 Stage
The 1st growth stage of Interphase is
called the G1 stage. During this stage,
cells are performing normal
functions. For example, cells of the
intestine are absorbing nutrients. As
the G1 stage continues, the cell will
grow larger in size. Additional
organelles (mitochondria, ribosomes,
lysosomes, etc…) are also created in
this stage. After all, the cell will
eventually split into two cells so new
parts will be needed for each new
cell.
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Interphase (S Stage)
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S Stage
The next stage of Interphase is the S
stage. This is named “S” stage
because DNA is synthesized during
this stage. This means that an extra
copy of DNA is created. One copy will
be needed for each of the two cells.
Here is a molecule of DNA. What will happen
to this DNA molecule during the S Stage?
It will be duplicated
It will be destroyed
It will be hidden
Correct.
Read the paragraph. What does
synthesis mean?
Read the paragraph. What does
synthesis mean?
Interphase (G2 Stage)
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Interphase
example
Interphase
example
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G2 Stage
The 2nd growth stage of Interphase (3rd
overall stage) is called the G2 stage.
Just as the G1 stage, the cell continues
to perform its normal functions. For
example, cells of the digestive system
would continue to release chemicals to
help digest food. Again, the cell
continues to grow larger during this
stage. After all, it is about to split into
two cells.
Click the proper picture of interphase below to advance to the next stage.
No
No
No
No
correct
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Prophase (1 of 2)
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Now that Interphase is complete, the cell has entered the process of Mitosis. During the next few stages, the
nucleus of the cell will divide into two and thus two daughter cells will ultimately be created.
Prophase marks the start of mitosis. In the prophase pictures above, you can see the round nucleus is
starting to dissolve and break apart. Notice how there are thick chunks inside the nucleus. DNA is normally
inside the nucleus and is also normally in a long, linear form (kinda like strands of spaghetti). However, as
prophase progresses, the long strands of DNA condense (coil) and tighten into chunky looking structures
called chromosomes. In human cells, a total of 46 chromosomes will appear. The advantage of chromosomes
is that the DNA is now in an easily moveable package. This will be important in the later stages of mitosis.
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Prophase (2 of 2)
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Chromosomes form
Key things to notice:
-- Chromosomes form
-- Nucleus dissolves
-- Spindle fibers created
Nucleus dissolves
Click the proper picture of prophase below to advance to the next stage.
correct
No
No
No
No
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Metaphase (1 of 2)
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chromosome
During Metaphase, the chromosomes (chunks of DNA) that are now fully formed are pulled by
protein threads called spindle fibers towards the cell’s equator (center). Spindle fibers act like a
rope and lasso. Once the chromosomes are lassoed, the spindle fibers pull the chromosomes to
the middle of the cell. The spindle fibers attach to locations on the chromosomes called the
centromere. Notice in the two pictures above how the thick chunks called chromosomes appear
near the middle of each cell.
chromatid
Metaphase (2 of 2)
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chromosome
Notice the
chromosomes
have been
pulled to the
cell equator.
Just like the
real picture to
the left.
chromatid
Here is a cartoon picture of a cell with three X shaped chromosomes. Click the play button to
see what the spindle fibers do.
Click the proper picture of metaphase below to advance to the next stage.
correct
No
No
No
No
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Anaphase (1 of 2)
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When metaphase is finished, remember that the chromosomes have been pulled to the cell’s equator. When
this is finished, the stage called anaphase follows.
chromosome
Chromosomes (chunks of DNA) are made of two halves. Each half is called a chromatid. In the picture below,
you can see that chromosomes resemble the letter X. The yellow half and the blue half are the two
chromatids that make up this single chromosome. During metaphase, all the chromosomes are lined up in
the middle of the cell. For humans, there are 46 total chromosomes lined up in the middle of the cell.
chromatid
Anaphase (2 of 2)
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chromosome
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chromatid
During anaphase, the spindle fibers that are still attached to the centromere pulls the chromosomes apart so
that one chromatid (yellow) is pulled to one end of the cell and the other chromatid (blue) is pulled to the
opposite end of the cell. Because the DNA of each chromatid is identical, each end of the cell will have a
compete set of DNA.
Cell in anaphase
metaphase
Click the proper picture of anaphase below to advance to the next stage.
Click the play button
correct
No
No
No
No
to see what the
spindle fibers do.
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Telophase
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When anaphase is complete, all the chromosomes inside the cell were separated with one chromatid being
pulled to each end of the cell.
During Telophase,
events take
place:
Clickthe
thefollowing
proper picture
of telophase
below to advance to the next stage.
-- the cytoplasm begins to divide in a process
cytokinesis
Cell
in anaphase
called cytokinesis.
correct
No
No
No
No
-- the nucleus has begun to reform around the
chromatids of each cell.
-- the spindle fibers begin to dissolve and
disappear.
-- The chromatids that have been pulled to each
end of the cell begin to unwind back into the
linear (spaghetti) form called chromatin.
Chromatids unwind into chromatin
Nucleus reforms
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All Stages Back to Back
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Remember that when the process began there was one single cell. But now that
Telophase and cytokinesis is complete, the cell has been split into two cells.
Examine the pictures below. The pictures take you from the start of interphase (one
cell) through the stages of the cell cycle until you finish with two cells.
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Take me to the
quiz. I’m
ready!
Telophase
The Quiz
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Answer each question one at a time. There are 20 total questions. Be sure to fill out your
worksheet along the way.
1) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
correct
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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2) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
correct
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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3) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
correct
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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4) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
correct
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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5) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
correct
The Quiz
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6) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
correct
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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7) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
correct
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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8) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
correct
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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9) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
correct
The Quiz
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10) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
correct
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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11) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
correct
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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12) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
correct
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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13) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
correct
Prophase
No
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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14) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
No
Metaphase
correct
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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15) Which stage of the cell cycle is this?
Interphase
No
Prophase
correct
Metaphase
No
Anaphase
No
Telophase
No
The Quiz
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16) During which stage of the cell cycle does the nucleus dissolve?
No
correct
No
No
No
The Quiz
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17) During which stage of the cell cycle do the chromosomes align along the cell's
equator?
No
No
correct
No
No
The Quiz
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18) During which stage of the cell cycle does the G1, S, and G2 stages occur?
correct
No
No
No
No
The Quiz
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19) During which stage of the cell cycle does the cell perform its normal functions?
correct
No
No
No
No
The Quiz
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20) During which stage of the cell cycle are the chromatids pulled to each half of the
cell?
No
No
No
correct
No
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The End
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I hope this tutorial was helpful. Be sure to turn in your worksheet
when finished.