1.

On a separate sheet, DRAW A COLORED PICTURE of a root tip cell in each

stage (I P M A T C).
Part two
1. Go to
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html
 2. Click Next twice until you see the chart.

3. Follow the directions to classify each cell as being in one of the phases.
In this activity, you will be presented with cells from the tip of an onion root. You
will classify each cell based on what phase it is in. At the end you will count up
the cells found in each phase and use those numbers to predict how much time a
dividing cell spends in each phase. You can base your calculation on a total cell
cycle of 24 hours. You can enter data in this table as you go along, or at the end
of the activity.
 20 10 3 2 1
I P M A T,C

Interphas Prophas Metaphas Anaphas Telophase/ Total

e e e e Cytokinesi
s
Numbe 20 10 3 2 1 36
r of
cells
Percent 55.6 27.8 8.3 5.6 2.8 100
of cells %
 4. Use your percentages to create a graph (on a separate sheet) of the amount
of time a cell spends in each stage of cell division, based on a 24 hour day
(or 1,440 minutes).

Percent of cells in stage X 1,440 minutes = ___________ minutes of cell cycle

spent in stage
 MINUTES OF CELL CYLE SPENT IN EACH STAGE
90,000
80,064
80,000

70,000

60,000

50,000
40,032
40,000

30,000

20,000
12,528
10,000 8,064
4,032
0
INTERPHASE PROPHASE METAPHASE ANAPHASE TELOPHASE/CYTOKINESIS

Questions for Mitosis

5. Which stage of the cell cycle is the longest?

The longest stage in cell cycle is Interphase because the cell has to grow
throughout, duplicate DNA and prepare to go through mitosis.

6. Why are onion root tips a good choice for viewing cells in different stages
of the cell cycle?

Onion root tips a good choice for viewing cells in different stages of the
cell cycle because their cells are more frequently undergoing mitosis and the
chromosomes are large and few in number.
 7. Are there any mammalian cells that would be a good source for dividing
cells? What types of cells would most like NOT have cells undergoing
division?

Permanent cells are less likely to not have cells undergoing divisions. Animals do
not typically exhibit regions of very rapid growth except during embryonic development.
Instead, researchers use the rapidly dividing of cells found in early embryos, such as
the cells of the Whitefish Blastula. Since whitefish blastula are actively dividing , a high
proportion of these cells are in some stage of mitosis.

REFLECTION

Mitosis is considered nuclear division, since it’s main stages deal strictly with the
nucleus and its contents which is DNA. Mitosis consist of four stages, we have
Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase/Cytokinesis. Mitosis is part of a larger
process called the cell cycle. When a living organisms needs new cells to repair
damage, grow or even just maintain its condition, cells undergo the cell cycle. In this
Mitosis Virtual Lab Activity helps you to identify the stages of mitosis as seen under the
microscope using onion root tip. They use onion root tip because growth roots occurs at
the tips, where cell will most actively undergo mitosis then sketch each stages as what
you saw in the root tip of the onion. And after identifying the four stages, next part is
calculating the approximate time it takes for a cell to pass through each of the four
stages using the given formula.
 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. A diploid cell has_______ the number of chromosomes as a haploid cell.

a. one-fourth
b. half
c. twice
d. four times

2. An organism’s traits are determined by the specific combination of inherited _____.

a. cells.
b. genes.
c. proteins.
d. chromatids.

3. The first level of DNA organization in a eukaryotic cell is maintained by which

molecule?
a. cohesin
b. condensin
c. chromatin
d. histone

4. Identical copies of chromatin held together by cohesin at the centromere are called
_____.
a. histones.
b. nucleosomes.
c. chromatin.
d. sister chromatids.
5. Chromosomes are duplicated during what stage of the cell cycle?
a. G1 phase
b. S phase
c. prophase
d. prometaphase

6 Which of the following events does not occur during some stages of interphase?
a. DNA duplication
b. organelle duplication
c. increase in cell size
d. separation of sister chromatids

7.. The mitotic spindles arise from which cell structure?

a. centromere
b. centrosome
c. kinetochore
d. cleavage furrow

8. Attachment of the mitotic spindle fibers to the kinetochores is a characteristic of which

stage of mitosis?

a. prophase
b. prometaphase
c. metaphase
d. anaphase
9. Unpacking of chromosomes and the formation of a new
nuclear envelope is a characteristic of which stage of
mitosis?
a. prometaphase
b. metaphase
c. anaphase
d. telophase

10. Separation of the sister chromatids is a characteristic of which stage of mitosis?

a. prometaphase
b. metaphase
c. anaphase
d. telophase

11. The chromosomes become visible under a light microscope during which stage of
mitosis?

a. prophase
b. prometaphase
c. metaphase
d. anaphase

12. The fusing of Golgi vesicles at the metaphase plate of dividing plant cells forms
what structure?
a. cell plate
b. actin ring
c. cleavage furrow
d. mitotic spindle
13. Figure 10.6 Which of the following is the correct order of events in mitosis?

a. Sister chromatids line up at the metaphase plate. The kinetochore becomes attached
to the mitotic spindle. The nucleus reforms and the cell divides. Cohesin proteins break
down and the sister chromatids separate.

b. The kinetochore becomes attached to the mitotic spindle. Cohesin proteins break
down and the sister chromatids separate. Sister chromatids lineup at the metaphase
plate. The nucleus reforms and the cell divides.

c. The kinetochore becomes attached to the cohesion proteins. Sister chromatids line
up at the metaphase plate. The kinetochore breaks down and the sister chromatids
separate. The nucleus reforms and the cell divides.

d. The kinetochore becomes attached to the mitotic spindle. Sister chromatids line up at
the metaphase plate. Cohesin proteins break down and the sister chromatids separate.
The nucleus reforms and the cell divides.

14. At which of the cell-cycle checkpoints do external forces have the greatest
influence?
a. G1 checkpoint
b. G2 checkpoint
c. M checkpoint
d. G0 checkpoint

15. What is the main prerequisite for clearance at the G2 checkpoint?

a. cell has reached a sufficient size

b. an adequate stockpile of nucleotides
c. accurate and complete DNA replication
d. proper attachment of mitotic spindle fibers to kinetochores
16. If the M checkpoint is not cleared, what stage of mitosis will be blocked?
a. prophase
b. prometaphase
c. metaphase
d. anaphase

17. Which protein is a positive regulator that phosphorylates other proteins when
activated?
a. p53
b. retinoblastoma protein (Rb)
c. cyclin
d. cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)

18. Many of the negative regulator proteins of the cell cycle were discovered in what
type of cells?
a. gametes
b. cells in G0
c. cancer cells
d. stem cells
19. Which negative regulatory molecule can trigger cell suicide (apoptosis) if vital cell
cycle events do not occur?
a. p53
b. p21
c. retinoblastoma protein (Rb)
d. cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)
20. ___________ are changes to the order of nucleotides in a segment of DNA that
codes for a protein.
a. Proto-oncogenes
b. Tumor suppressor genes
c. Gene mutations
d. Negative regulators

21. A gene that codes for a positive cell-cycle regulator is called a(n) _____.
a. kinase inhibitor.
b. tumor suppressor gene.
c. proto-oncogene.
d. oncogene.

22. A mutated gene that codes for an altered version of Cdkthat is active in the absence
of cyclin is a(n) _____.

a. kinase inhibitor.
b. tumor suppressor gene.
c. proto-oncogene.
d. oncogene.

23. Which molecule is a Cdkinhibitor that is controlled by p53?

a. cyclin
b. anti-kinase
c. Rb
d. p21
24. Which eukaryotic cell-cycle event is missing in binary fission?
a. cell growth
b. DNA duplication
c. karyokinesis
d. cytokinesis

25. FtsZ proteins direct the formation of a _______ that will eventually form the new cell
walls of the daughter cells.

a. contractile ring
b. cell plate
c. cytoskeleton
d. septum

26. Compare and contrast a human somatic cell to a human gamete.

Human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes which mean that it has 22 pairs and
2 sex chromosomes that may or may not form a pair, so this is diploid condition. While
in human gametes have 23 chromosomes and one each of 23 inimitable chromosomes,
one of which is sex chromosome and so this is haploid condition.

27. What is the relationship between a genome, chromosomes, and genes?

The relationship between a genome, chromosomes and genes is that genome

consists of the sum total of an organism’s chromosomes. Every chromosome contains
hundreds and occasionally thousands of genes, segments of DNA that code for a
polypeptide or RNA and a great amount of DNA with no known function.
28. Eukaryotic chromosomes are thousands of times longer than a typical cell. Explain
how chromosomes can fit inside a eukaryotic nucleus.

Chromosomes can fit inside a eukaryotic nucleus by the DNA which is wrapped
around histone proteins to form structures called nucleosomes. The nucleosomes and
the linker DNA in between them are coiled into a 30-nm fiber. During cell division,
chromatin is further condensed by packing proteins.

29. Briefly describe the events that occur in each phase of interphase.

In phase G1, the cell increases in size, the genomic DNA is assessed for damage
and the cell stockpiles energy reserves and the mechanism to synthesize DNA. During
S phase, the chromosomes, the centrosomes and the centrioles in animal cells
duplicate. During the G2 phase, the cell recovers from the S phase, continues to
develop, duplicates some organelles and dismantles other organelles.

30. Chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine (derived from Madagascar periwinkle

plants) and colchicine (derived from autumn crocus plants) disrupt mitosis by binding to
tubulin (the subunit of microtubules) and interfering with microtubule assembly and
disassembly. Exactly what mitotic structure is targeted by these drugs and what effect
would that have on cell division?

The mitotic structure that is being targeted by these drugs is mitotic spindle
because mitotic spindle is formed of microtubules. And microtubules are polymers of the
protein tubulin. Without a functional spindle, the chromosomes will not be sorted during
mitosis, the cell will seize and die in mitosis.
31. Describe the similarities and differences between the cytokinesis mechanisms found
in animal cells versus those in plant cells.

In animal cells, cytokinesis typically starts during late anphase. A contractile ring
composed of actin filaments forms just inside the plasma membrane at the former
metaphase plate. The actin filaments pull the equator of the cell inward, forming a
fissure. This fissure is called cleavage furrow. The furrow deepens as the actin ring
contracts and eventually the membrane is cleaved in two. In plants, a cell wall must
form between the daughter cells. During interphase the Golgi apparatus accumulates
enzymes, structural proteins and glucose molecules prior to breaking into vesicles and
dispering throughout the dividing cell. During telophase, these Golgi vesicles are
transported on microtuboles to form a phragmoplast a vesicular structure at the
metaphase plate. There, the vesicles fuse and coalesce from the center toward the cell
wall, this structure is called a cell plate. As more vesicles fuse, the cell plate enlarges
until it merges with the cell walls at the periphery of the cell. Enzymes use the glucose
that has accumulated between the membrane layers to build a new cell wall.

32. List some reasons why a cell that has just completed cytokinesis might enter the G0
phase instead of the G1 phase.

Some reasons why a cell that has just completed cytokinesis might enter the G o
phasw instead of the G1 phase are many cells temporarily enter G o until they reach
maturity and some cells are only triggered to enter G1 when the organism needs to
increase that particular cell type. some cells only reproduce following an injury to the
tissue and some cells never divide once they reach maturity.
33. What cell-cycle events will be affected in a cell that produces mutated (non-
functional) cohesin protein?

The cell cycle events that will be affected in a cell that produces mutated (non-
functional) cohesion protein are if cohesion is not functional, chromosomes are not
package after DNA replication in the S phase of interphase. It is likely that the proteins
of the centromeric region, such as the kinetochore, would not form and even if the
mitotic spindle fibers could attach to the chromatids without packing, the chromosomes
would not be sorted or separated during mitosis.

34. Describe the general conditions that must be met at each of the three main cell-
cycle checkpoints.

In the G1, the checkpoint monitors adequate the cell growth, the state of
the genomic DNA, adequate stores of energy and materials for S phase. While in the
G2 checkpoint, the DNA is checked to ensure that all chromosomes were duplicated
and that there are no mistakes in newly synthesized DNA. Added to it, cell size energy
reserves are evaluated. The M checkpoint also confirms the correct attachment of the
mitotic spindle fibers to the kinetochores.

35. Compare and contrast the roles of the positive cell-cycle regulators negative
regulators.

In positive regulation, the active molecules such as cyclin and cyclin-dependent

kinase (Cdk) complexes the cell cycle to progress or advance to the next stage while in
negative regulation, the active molecules halt the cell cycle and if damaged DNA is
detected, p53 blocks the progression of cell cycle and recruits enzymes to repair the
DNA.