Biology 2: Cell Cycle

Cell Cycle – An ordered series of events involving cell growth and cell
division that produces two daughter cells.
Mitosis
- is a process of asexual reproduction in which the cell divides in
two producing a replica, with an equal number of chromosomes
in each resulting diploid cell.
Meiosis
- is a type of cellular reproduction in which the number of
chromosomes are reduced by half through the separation of
homologous chromosomes, producing two haploid cells.

Differences Mitosis Meiosis

Type of
Reproduction
Asexual Sexual
Genetically Similar Different
No, crossing over Yes, mixing of chromosomes
Crossing Over
cannot occur. can occur.
Number of
Divisions
One Two
Pairing of
Homologs
No Yes
Can be either haploid or
Mother Cells Always diploid
diploid
Number of
Daughter Cells 2 diploid cells 4 haploid cells
produced
Chromosome
Number
Remains the same. Reduced by half.
Takes place during zygotene
Chromosomes
Pairing
Does Not Occur of prophase I and continue
upto metaphase I.
Makes everything other Sex cells only: female egg
Creates
than sex cells. cells or male sperm cells.
Takes Place in Somatic Cells Germ Cells
Observed during prophase I
Chiasmata Absent
and metaphase I.
Disappear completely Do not disappear completely
Spindle Fibres
in telophase. in telophase I.
Do not reappear at
Nucleoli Reappear at telophase
telophase I.
 (Meiosis 1) Prophase I,
Metaphase I, Anaphase I,
Prophase, Metaphase, Telophase I; (Meiosis 2)
Steps
Anaphase, Telophase. Prophase II, Metaphase II,
Anaphase II and Telophase
II.
Karyokinesis Occurs in Interphase. Occurs in Interphase I.
Occurs in Telophase I and in
Cytokinesis Occurs in Telophase.
Telophase II.
The centromeres do not
The centromeres split
Centromeres Split separate during anaphase I,
during anaphase.
but during anaphase II.
Prophase Simple Complicated
Duration of prophase is
Prophase is comparatively
Prophase short, usually of few
longer and may take days.
hours.
Synapsis of Homologous
Synapsis No Synapsis chromosomes takes place
during prophase.
Two chromatids of a Chromatids of two
Exchange of chromosome do not homologous chromosome
Segments exchange segments exchange segments during
during prophase. crossing over.
Discovered by Walther Flemming Oscar Hertwig
Cellular reproduction
Genetic diversity through
Function and general growth and
sexual reproduction.
repair of the body.
Takes part in the formation
Takes part in healing of gametes and
Function
and repair. maintenance of
chromosome number.
2 Major Phases of Cell Cycle:

Interphase – Covers cell growth and DNA Replication

Mitotic phase- Replicated DNA and cytoplasmic contents are separated
then the cell divides.

G0 Phase (Cell Cycle Arrest)

- cellular state outside of the replicative cell cycle. Classically,
cells were thought to enter G₀ primarily due to environmental
factors, like nutrient deprivation, that limited the resources
necessary for proliferation. Thus, it was thought of as a resting
phase.
Parts of the Interphase
G1 Phase (First Gap)
- also called the first gap phase, the cell grows physically larger,
copies organelles, and makes the molecular building blocks it
will need in later steps.
S Phase (Synthesis of DNA)
- cell synthesizes a complete copy of the DNA in its nucleus. It also
duplicates a microtubule-organizing structure called the
centrosome. The centrosomes help separate DNA during M
phase.
G2 Phase (Second Phase)
- the cell grows more, makes proteins and organelles, and begins
to reorganize its contents in preparation for mitosis. G2 phase
ends when mitosis begins.

Cell cycle checkpoint

- Regular Cells move through the cycle in a regulated way.
- Cancer cells breeze through from one phase to another.
To reduce the chances of mutated cells, there are checkpoints that cells has to
pass in between phases, to ensure that they are fit for cell division. Such as:
G1 Checkpoint
(Located in between G1 and S Transition)
- Main decision point for a cell. A cell checks the internal and external
conditions of the cell. It checks for the ff:
o Size (Is the cell large enough to divide?)
o Nutrients (Does the cell have enough energy reserves or
available nutrients to divide?
o Molecular Signals (Is the cell receiving positive cues? Such as
growth factors from neighbors)
o DNA Integrity (Is any of DNA damaged?)
- If the cell does not pass, it could permanently enter the G0 phase
or stay there until conditions improve.
G2 Checkpoint
(Located in between G2 and M Transition)
- The G2 Checkpoint ensures cell division goes smoothly, that
products are healthy daughter cell, a 2nd Checkpoint is added. This
checkpoint checks for:
o DNA Integrity (Is any part of the DNA Damaged?)
o DNA Replication (Was the DNA completely copied during the S
phase?)
- If errors are found, the cell would stay in G2 checkpoint until
repaired. If the damage is unrepairable, the cell undergoes
apoptosis (a self-destruct mechanism that kills the cell)
M Checkpoint / Spindle Checkpoint
(Located in transition from metaphase to anaphase)
- A cell examines whether all the sister chromatids are correctly
attached to the spindle microtubules. The cycle will not proceed until
all chromosomes are firmly attached to atleast 2 spindle fibers from
opposite poles of the cell.
- They also look for Straggler chromosome. (a misplaced chromosome)
When located, the cell will pause mitosis, and wait until the spindle
captures the stray chromosome.