Genetics

Mitosis vs. Meiosis

Because DNA stores genetic information and is faithfully replicated, information is passed largely unaltered from cellto-cell, generationto- generation.

DNA is Packaged into Chromosomes

duplicated chromosome

chromatin The packaging is impressive 2 meters of human DNA fit into a sphere about 0.000005 meters in diameter.

DNA Replication
Dna replication ensures each daughter cell has all the info needed to carry out its activities The rungs of DNA are nitrogen bases
Adenine Thymine Cytosine Guanine

Only adenine and thymine can link together and only guanine and cytosine can link together

Need For Reproduction

Reproduction is the life process in which living things produce other living things of the same species. Reproduction is not necessary for the life of one individual organism. It is necessary for the continued survival of a particular group of organisms.

Cell Division
All cells arise from other cells by cell division. When cells grow to a certain size they must either divide or die. If a cell continued to grow without dividing, the surface area of the cell would become too small to hold the cells contents.

Cell Division
Cell division is a complex series of changes in the nucleus of a cell that leads to the production of two new cells. The new cells are called daughter cells. The nuclei of the daughter cells are usually identical to each other and to that of the parent cell. The daughter cells grow and increase in size until they divide and produce two more daughter cells. This process continues, resulting in organism growth and reproduction.

Mitosis
All cells in the body (except sex cells) are produced by the process of mitotic cell division. Mitosis involves a complex series of changes in the nuclei of body cells that produce identical (same) daughter cells.
They have the same number and type of chromosomes as the parent cells.

The Cell Cycle Stages of Mitosis

Although the events of mitosis are an ongoing process, they are generally described in terms of separate phases, or stages.
Interphase Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase

DNA is Condensed into Visible Chromosomes Only For Brief Periods in the Life of a Cell

95% of the time, chromosomes are like this.

Easily visible chromosomes are apparent perhaps 5% of the time in an actively growing cell and less in a non-growing cell.

Before Cell Division

Before mitosis can begin, the cells chromosomes must be duplicated. The familiar X shape usually shown in pictures of chromosomes is actually two chromosomes right before mitosis or meiosis.

Interphase
Interphase is the period between cell divisions. During interphase, the single-stranded chromosomes replicate (make an extra copy). The chromosomes can not be seen during interphase.

Prophase
In prophase, the doublestranded chromosomes become visible, and the nuclear membrane disappears. A spindle apparatus, consisting of fibers, forms between opposite poles of the cell.

Metaphase
During metaphase, the chromosomes move toward the middle of the cell and line up at the cell equator (midline).

Anaphase
During anaphase, the double-stranded chromosome separates and move to opposite poles of the cell. There is a complete set of chromosomes at each pole of the cell.

Telophase and Cytoplasmic Division

The last stage of mitosis is telophase. In telophase, a nuclear membrane forms around each set of chromosomes, forming two identical nuclei. At the end of mitosis, the cytoplasm divides, forming two new identical daughter cells.

The Cell Cycle

Mitosis in Action

Cancer Is One Outcome of A Runaway Cell Cycle

Licentious division - prostate cancer cells during division.

Meiosis
The process of meiosis involves two cell divisions and produces cells that are different from the parent cell.
Meiosis produces cells that have one-half the number of chromosomes as the parent cells. If meiosis did not take place, the fertilized egg would have double the amount of chromosomes it needs.

Meiosis takes place during sexual reproduction when sex cells, called the egg and sperm, are produced in sex organs.

Meiosis
One-half the number of chromosomes is called the haploid, (or n) number.
In humans, the haploid number (n) is 23.

When the egg and sperm unite during fertilization, the species normal chromosome number called the diploid or (2n) number is restored (brought back).
The diploid number in humans is 46. n (sperm) + n (egg) = 2n

A Karyotype is an Arranged Picture of Chromosomes At Their Most Condensed State

Note that almost all chromosomes come in homologous pairs.

A normal human karyotype

Men are busy meiosis produces roughly 250,000,000 sperm per day.

Boy or Girl? The Y Chromosome Decides

Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis

Characteristic
Number of daughter cells Number of cell division Daughter cells are diploid or haploid Daughter cells are identical or different Parent cell is diploid or haploid

Mitosis
2 1 Diploid Identical Diploid

Meiosis
4 2 Haploid Different Diploid