Cell life cycle and Mitosis

Interphase: the state in which a cell will spend most of its functional life. When
preparing to divide interphase can be split into the G1; S and G2 phases. G0 is
the stage when cells perform normal cell functions some cells stay in G0
indefinitely, e.g. skeletal muscle cells and neurons.

G1: the cell will produce enough cell material for 2 cells, such as
endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome, Golgi apparatus and cytosol. Centriole
replication begins
S: Duplication of chromosomes, involves synthesis of histones.
G2: Lasts only 2-5 hours, devoted to last minute protein synthesis and
completion of centriole replication before Mitosis.

Stage 1 of mitosis: Prophase

The chromosomes condense (coil tightly) and become visible. The

chromatids are connected at the centromere. At the centromere 2
kinetochores reside, one for each chromatid. Kinetochores are the protein
structures that spindle fibres attach to.
The replicated centrioles move to opposite poles. An array of microtubules
(the spindle fibres) extends between the centriole pairs.
The nuclear envelope disappears
The kinetochore of each chromatid
attaches to a spindle fibre to make
a chromosomal microtubule
As the chromosomes appear the nucleoli
disappear ( the disappearance happens at
late prophase)

Stage2: Metaphase

The chromatids move to the narrow

called the metaphase plate

3: Anaphase

central zone

The centromere of each chromatid splits

separate
Daughter chromosomes are pulled to
ends of the cell along the chromosomal
microtubules

and chromatids
opposite

Stage 4: Telophase

Cells prepare to return to interphase,

nuclear membranes form
Nuclei enlarge, nucleoli reappear and the chromosomes
The fine filaments of the chromatin become visible {Mass of genetic
material composed of DNA and proteins that condense to
form chromosomes during eukaryotic cell division. Chromatin is located in
the nucleus of a cell.}

Cytokinesis: the cytoplasmic division of daughter cells.

Meiosis
The outcome of meiosis is the production of 4 daughter cells.
1. Prophase 1: some things are similar to mitosis: the chromosomes
duplicate and the chromatids condense to become visible. But now we
have synapsis occurring. Synapsis is the pairing of homologous
chromosomes, when they synapse genetic recombination (crossing-over)
occurs, this is to increase genetic variation. A tetrad is formed when 4
chromatids are linked. At the end of prophase 1 the nuclear envelope will
disappear.
2. Metaphase 1: The tetrads line up across the metaphase plate
3. Anaphase 1: The tetrads break up- separating the maternal and paternal
chromosomes.
4. Telophase 1: ends with the formation of 2 daughter cells containing
unique combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes. The first
meiotic division is called reductional division because the number of
chromosomes has been reduced from 46 to 23.
Meiosis ii ( basically the same as mitosis):
1. Prophase 2: the nuclear envelope disappears, the centrioles move to
polar regions
2. Metaphase 2: the chromatids line up at the metaphase plate, the
centrioles attach spindle fibres onto the kinetochores.
3. Anaphase 2: the chromatids are pulled apart and move to opposite
regions
4. Telophase 2: ends with the production of 4 daughter cells containing 23
chromosomes (equational division as the no. Of chromosomes is the same
as before division)