Name ______________________________________ Date _____________ Block ___________
Mitosis Webquest
The Big Idea of Mitosis:
Go to the following website: http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell2_mitosis.html
1. What is the “big idea” of mitosis?
2. How do the two new daughter cells compare to the original cell?
3. Why is interphase called the “resting state” of the cell?
Why divide?
There are several reasons for a cell to divide. Two reasons are shown at the following
website:http://plaza.ufl.edu/alallen/pgl/modules/rio/stingarees/module/what.html
4. Name the two reasons shown for cell division.
What do chromosomes look like?
When the cell needs to divide, the DNA must coil up tightly into chromosomes. When DNA has not
copied itself, the chromosomes have only one strand. These strands are called chromatids. After DNA
replicates, each strand (chromatid) has a twin attached to it. These are now called sister chromatids,
and they are connected by a centromere. Visit this website
http://library.thinkquest.org/28751/review/division/1.html
5. Draw a picture of a chromosome. Label the whole chromosome, the centromere, and a
chromatid.
Stages of Mitosis:
Go to the following website: http://www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm On the left side of the screen is a
navigation bar, click on the link to “MITOSIS”. View the animation and read the text below the animation
on this page.
List the four stages of mitosis (Notice – there’s an extra phase here…”prometaphase” – sometimes that is
added as an “in-between” phase between prophase and metaphase. In this class you are only responsible
for PMAT).
1._________________ 2.________________ 3. ___________________ 4. ___________________
In which stage does each of the following occur?
Stage
Description
Chromatin condenses into chromosomes
Chromosomes align in center of cell
Longest part of the cell cycle
Nuclear envelope breaks down
Cell is cleaved (divided) into two daughter cells
Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles
Daughter chromatids are pulled apart
Another Mitosis Animation
Go to the following website: http://www.johnkyrk.com/mitosis.html. Draw a cell in each of the following
phases (click and hold down your cursor to pause the animation):
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
How long does each stage last?
Go to: http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html and read the
introduction.
1. What kinds of cells will you be looking at in this activity?
Click “Next.” Read about the major phases in the life cycle of the cell. Then click “Next.”
Now you’ll read about the assignment to classify cells based on what phase they are in. Then click
“Next.” You will have 36 cells to classify. Use the following table to record your data:
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Number of
cells
Percent of
cells
Telophase
Total
36
100 %
Calculate the percent of cells in each phase by dividing the number of cells by the total number of cells
(36).
What do you notice about the stages based on your calculations in the table? Which stage lasts
longest? Which stage is shortest?
If you finish early, try these mitosis games. You should not be on any other website besides those listed
on this webquest!!!
http://www.centreofthecell.org/interactives/mitosis/index.php
http://www.quia.com/pp/3371.html?AP_rand=98647523
http://sciencereviewgames.com/srg/games/ps.php?id=127