Cell Division

Cell Cycle – series of changes a cell goes

through from the time it is formed
until it divides.
 Cells have two major periods
– Interphase (longer phase of cell cycle)
• Cell grows
• Cell carries on metabolic processes
– Cell division
• Cell replicates itself
• Function is to produce more cells for growth
and repair processes
 DNA
 Very complex
molecule.
 Composed of
building blocks
called nucleotides,
each containing a
deoxyribose sugar,
a phosphate
group, & a
nitrogen-
containing base.
DNA Replication
 Genetic material is duplicated and
readies a cell for division into two cells
 Occurs toward the end of interphase
 DNA uncoils and each side serves as a
template, or set of instructions, for
building a nucleotide strand.
 Events of Cell Division
 Mitosis—division of the nucleus
– Results in the formation of two daughter
nuclei
 Cytokinesis—division of the cytoplasm
– Begins when mitosis is near completion
– Results in the formation of two daughter
cells
 Stages of Mitosis
 Prophase
– First part of cell division
– Centrioles migrate to the poles to direct assembly of
mitotic spindle fibers
– DNA appears as double-stranded chromosomes
– Nuclear envelope breaks down and disappears
 Stages of Mitosis
 Metaphase
– Chromosomes
are aligned in the
center of the cell
on the metaphase
plate
 Stages of Mitosis
 Anaphase
– Chromosomes are
pulled apart and
toward the
opposite ends of
the cell
– Cell begins to
elongate
 Stages of Mitosis
 Telophase
– Chromosomes
uncoil to become
chromatin
– Nuclear envelope
reforms around
chromatin
– Spindles break
down and
disappear
 Stages of Mitosis
 Cytokinesis
– Begins during late anaphase and
completes during telophase
– A cleavage furrow forms to pinch the cells
into two parts
– Division of cytoplasm
 Centrioles Chromatin Centrioles Spindle Centromere
microtubules
Forming
mitotic
spindle Centromere

Plasma Nuclear Chromosome, Fragments of Spindle

membrane envelope consisting of two nuclear envelope pole
Nucleolus sister chromatids
Interphase Early prophase Late prophase
Metaphase Nucleolus
plate forming

Cleavage
furrow

Nuclear
Spindle Sister Daughter envelope
chromatids chromosomes forming
Metaphase Anaphase Telophase and cytokinesis
Figure 3.15
 Importance of Mitosis:
 Increasing the number of cells in a
particular tissue.
 Protection from harmful microorganism
in case of a cut or wound.
 Replacement of dead or inefficient cells
in a tissue.
 To maintain the cytoplasm to
nucleoplasm as well as surface area to
volume ratio.
 What Happens When Mitosis Goes Wrong?

 Deletion – ex. Cri du chat and Prader-

Willi Syndrome
 Inversion
 Translocation
lymphomas, Down Syndrome, leukemias
and some psychiatric disorders
 What Happens When Mitosis Goes Wrong?

 Changes in Chromosome Number

(Nondisjunction)
aneuploidy - new cells with either extra or
missing chromosomes
ex. Down Syndrome
Turner syndrome
Edward’s Syndrome
Patau Syndrome ; and Kleinfelter’s
Syndrome
 What Happens When Mitosis Goes Wrong?

 Mitotic Errors and Cancer

* cancer is some form of uncontrolled
cell growth; a result of deletions,
Inversions and translocations

*Such changes can alter control of the cell

cycle. They can also activate genes known
to be cancerous -- oncogenes. Changes may
also inactivate tumor-suppressing genes.