1.6 Cell Division

Essential Idea

• Cell division is essential but must be controlled.

Understandings

1. Mitosis is division of the nucleus into two genetically identical daughter nuclei.

   • Can you outline the stages of mitosis including the major events within each?

   • Can you explain how and why the two daughter nuclei are genetically identical?

2. Chromosomes condense by supercoiling during mitosis.

   • Can you describe the supercoiling process that transforms loose chromatin into condensed chromosomes?

3. Cytokinesis occurs after mitosis and is different in plant and animal cells.

   • Can you distinguish between how plant and animal cells divide during cytokinesis?

4. Interphase is a very active phase of the cell cycle with many processes occurring in the nucleus and cytoplasm.

   • Can you outline the stages of interphase including the major events within each?

5. Cyclins are involved in the control of the cell cycle.

   • Can you distinguish the functional difference between G₁ and mitotic cyclin?

   • Can you explain why cyclins (and CDK) are important for the normal functioning of cells?

6. Mutagens, oncogenes and metastasis are involved in the development of primary and secondary tumors.

   • Can you outline the process by which some cells become cancerous?

   • Can you outline the process by which cancer is able to spread throughout an organism?

Applications

1. The correlation between smoking and incidence of cancers.

   • Can you identify this correlation and provide evidence?

   • Can you suggest why smoking is legal?

Skills

1. Identification of phases of mitosis in cells viewed with a microscope or in a micrograph (VIDEO).

   • Can you look through a microscope or at a micrograph and determine what mitotic stage a cell is in?

   • Can you outline what you would look for (expect to see) in cells undergoing each different stage?

2. Determination of a mitotic index from a micrograph (VIDEO).

   • Can you determine the mitotic index of a cell by using a microscope or examining micrographs?

Key Vocabulary

(click HERE for definitions and illustrations)

• Interphase

  • Chromatin

  • G₁

  • S

  • G₂

• Mitosis

  • Supercoiling

    • Histone

    • Nucleosome

    • Solenoid

    • Looped domain

  • Chromosome

  • Sister chromatids

  • Centromere

  • Prophase

  • Metaphase

  • Anaphase

  • Telophase

• Cytokinesis

• Cyclins

  • CDK

  • G₁

  • Mitotic

• Cancer

  • Tumour

    • Mitotic index

  • Metastasis

  • Mutagens

  • Oncogenes

Textbook Reading and/or Activities

Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 1.

• Pages 42-50

Notes

1.6 Cell Division

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Bob Smullen, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

BioNinja - Topic 1.6

Essentially an online textbook outlining the entire subtopic in specific detail. Please use this resource.

Bioknowledgy Notes

A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

Bioknowledgy Study Questions

A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.

1.6 Notes

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, examining all (slides 1-32) of the IB learning expectations.

1.6 Study Questions

A series of questions, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice. Answers.

Mitosis and Cell Division

Outlines the process of mitosis, cell division and the connection to cancers.

Learning Activities

Chromosome Structure and Notes

A detailed animation, produced by John Kyrk, illustrating the formation and structure of a chromosome.

Mitosis Animation and Notes

A simple animation, produced by John Kyrk, illustrating the key events of mitosis.

Microscopy/Animation Comparison of Mitosis

This animation, prepared by Cells Alive, shows a comparison between an actual video of mitosis occurring within a cell and an animated version of the same thing to help outline the process. There is a short reading (5-7 minutes) and some study aids associated with the animation.

Mitosis Practice Quiz

This 10 question multiple choice quiz, prepared by Biology Corner, can help you check your understanding of the mitotic process. You will also see an "advanced" quiz in the top right part of the page.

Mitosis Practice Quiz

This 10 multiple choice quiz, prepared by Science Source with Pearson Canada, can help you check your understanding of the cell cycle and some cancer-related issues.

Virtual Lab - The Cell Cycle and Cancer

This virtual lab, prepared by McGraw-Hill, will help you improve your ability to identify the phases of mitosis viewed through a microscope.

Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer

This fantastic tutorial, prepared by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), clearly outlines with visuals the process by which eukaryotic cells reproduce and how this process can be disrupted resulting in cancer.

Cell Cycle Assignment

Use this assignment outline and grading rubric to complete the Cell Cycle Assignment in which you will create a stop-motion animation video illustrating the mitotic process.

Supplemental Readings

Mitosis Reading

For those of you that prefer reading (~20 minutes) with some diagrams, Nature has prepared a very clear outline of the mitotic process.

Cell Cycle and Mitosis Tutorial

This short reading (<10 minutes), prepared by the University of Arizona, reviews the cell cycle and phases of mitosis. It also includes a practice quiz to check your understanding.

This video explores some common mutagens and wonders why, if they are such major influences in our lives, we don't all have cancer of some type.