Cell Cycle

Growth: A permanent and irreversible increase in size that occurs as a organism gets older.
Cell cycle: The sequence of events which occur between one cell division and the next.
Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of specialised cells called gametes, which are derived
from two different individuals.
- Gametes are haploid so that during fertilisation, the number of chromosomes stays the same
every generation.
- The type of nuclear division that halves the chromosome number is called meiosis and is
sometimes described as reduction division.
Cell
division (mitosis) is the basis of growth in all multicellular organisms.

In eukaryotes, the cell cycle is divided into the following phases:

- Interphase:
Interphase represents approximately 95% go the cell cycle. During interphase, chromosomes
are not visible as distinct bodies but as long threads of chromatin.
Interphase is split into three phases:
1. G1: The cell grows and makes more organelles, RNA, and proteins(e.g. enzymes). If
cells do not grow before they divide, they will become smaller and smaller over
generations. At the end of this stage, the cell becomes committed to dividing or not
dividing.
2. S phase: DNA and centrioles replicate. Kinetochores are made.
3. G2: Additional proteins and organelles are made and a small amount of further growth
takes place. New DNA is also checked and any errors are usually repaired.
- Mitosis (a.k.a M phase):
During mitosis, growth temporarily stops.
Mitosis can be splitting four phases:
1. Prophase:
The nuclear envelope and nucleolus disappear.
Chromosomes become visible as two chromatids attached by a centromere.
Centrioles move to opposite poles.
Spindles are being formed.
2. Metaphase:
Each centrosome is at a pole.
The chromosomes line up at the equator of the spindle.
Each chromosome splits at the centromere as it is pulled apart by the microtubules.
3. Anaphase:
The chromatids move to separate poles, pulled by microtubules, centromere leading.
4. Telophase:
The nuclear envelope and nucleolus reform.
The spindle fibres break down.
Chromosomes begin to uncoil .
Cytokinesis will start.

- Cytokinesis: In animal cells, cell division involves the constriction of the cytoplasm between
the two new nuclei. In plants, it involves the formation of a new cell wall between the two new
nuclei. Some consider this stage to be part of mitosis.
Extra Mitosis Knowledge
Kinetochores are proteins which attach to the DNA in the centromere of chromosomes.
- Microtubules connect kinetochores to the poles of the cell during mitosis. When these
microtubules shorten, due to removal of tubulin, the chromatids are pulled apart.
The centrosomes are found in the poles of the cell. They are composed of centrioles and a large
number of proteins surrounding the centrioles. These proteins are responsible for the production
of microtubules, not the centriole.
60-70% of the spindle microtubules are not attached to kinetochores either because they have
not found any to attach to or because they are involved in chromatid movement in other ways.