Cell Division

Student Exploration: Cell Division

Vocabulary: cell division, centriole, centromere, chromatid, chromatin, chromosome, cytokinesis, DNA, interphase, mitosis

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

Cells reproduce by splitting in half, a process called cell division. What do cells need to do between divisions to make sure that they don’t just get smaller and smaller?

______Interphase. The cells end up replicating its DNA and organelles, all the while growing. By the time the cell reaches the final stage in the cycle, it's basically two complete cells which then divide___________________________________________________________________

The genetic information of a cell is carried in its DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid). What do cells need to do between divisions to make sure that a full set of DNA gets passed on to each daughter cell?

_______They have to replicate their DNA so each daughter cell gets the same amount of genetic material as the parent __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Gizmo Warm-up

On the SIMULATION pane of the Cell Division Gizmo™, check that the Cycle Length is set to 12 hours. Click Play (), observe until the maximum number of cells is shown, and then click Pause ().

Look at the cells. Do they all look the same?

No, some are dividing while others are not

Cells that are in the process of dividing are said to be in mitosis or cytokinesis. Cells that are not dividing are in interphase.

Check the Magnify box and move the cursor over the cells.

Of the 100 cells shown, how many are in the process of dividing? ______11_________

Select the BAR CHART tab, and turn on Show numerical values. How many cells are in the interphase stage of their life cycle? __________85____________________

Based on these two observations, would you say that a...