Name: _______________________________________ Block: _________ Date: _____________________

Virtual Mitosis Lab

Objectives:
 Examine cells in the various stages of the cell cycle
 Identify which stage of the cell cycle certain cells are in
 Calculate percentage of time spent in each stage of the cell cycle
 Differentiate between mitosis in plant and animal cells

Plant Cell Mitosis

Procedure:
Log on to: http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html
Read through the information and answer the following questions before you classify any of the cells.

1. Why are onion root tip cells ideal for studying the cell cycle? ______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

2. How are onion cells prepared in order to view them? ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the two major events that happen during interphase? ___________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. When do chromosomes first become visible? ____________________________

5. What is the main event that occurs during metaphase? __________________________________________

6. What occurs during anaphase? ____________________________________________________________

7. What is the main event that occurs during telophase? ___________________________________________

8. What is cytokinesis? _____________________________________________________________________

C. Continue to click next. Eventually a picture of an onion cell will appear. You need to click on the phase that
you think the cell is in. You will be told if you are correct. If you are incorrect a clue will be given to help you
determine the right answer. Do this for all 36 cells.

9. What is the longest phase of mitosis? _______________________________

10. Based on your data, does a cell spend more time performing normal cell functions OR dividing?

______________________________________________________________________________________