Cell Reproduction: Mitosis
Reading
OpenStax book: Ch. 6 - "Reproduction at the Cellular Level".
BJU: Ch. 5 - "Genetics" sections 5.1 & 5.2, and section 6.3 - "Gene expression and cancer"
AP students additional reading: Princeton Review "Cell Communication and the Cell Cycle"
Topics
Labs
Memo: 2020-2021 labs will include hands-on and virtual, and may vary as the Covid-19 situation changes. Some of you want more hands-on than others. We will do what we can do.
There are several good Mitosis and Meiosis labs, including:
OpenStax book: Ch. 6 - "Reproduction at the Cellular Level".
BJU: Ch. 5 - "Genetics" sections 5.1 & 5.2, and section 6.3 - "Gene expression and cancer"
AP students additional reading: Princeton Review "Cell Communication and the Cell Cycle"
Topics
- The cell cycle
- Cell division
Labs
Memo: 2020-2021 labs will include hands-on and virtual, and may vary as the Covid-19 situation changes. Some of you want more hands-on than others. We will do what we can do.
There are several good Mitosis and Meiosis labs, including:
- Mitosis lab with HeLa Case Study (fulfills AP "dirty dozen lab" #7)
- HHMI - The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer (has both 'regular' and 'AP' lab reports)
- Univ. of Arizona Karyotyping WebLab (have used this several years)
- Several others; we'll decide when we get here based on the Covid-19 situation
Introduction
Cells divide and multiply. They do this 1) to replace damaged tissues, 2) to replace old worn-out cells, 3) to permit growth of an organism, and 4) to simply replicate themselves, as in the case of bacteria.
The body cells in a eukaryotic organism (humans, whales, and corn plants) divide/replicate and arrange themselves in organized structures, called tissues. This cell division process is called mitosis. In contrast, a single-celled prokaryotic organism (for example bacteria) divides in a process called binary fission.
During mitosis, the nucleus and its contents must be carefully divided between the two, new daughter cells. This means that all the chromosomes must be lined up in a 'dance' and carefully pulled apart - using very interesting cell machinery and feedback mechanisms (see the animation video below). When you see and begin to understand the complexity and beauty of this molecular-scale process, biology and biotechnology become extremely interesting!
Lab: The topic of cell division is critical to understanding cancer, which is actually 200 separate diseases which affect various tissues in the body. Part of our lab will be an interesting case study on a famous woman named Henrietta Lacks.
Cells divide and multiply. They do this 1) to replace damaged tissues, 2) to replace old worn-out cells, 3) to permit growth of an organism, and 4) to simply replicate themselves, as in the case of bacteria.
The body cells in a eukaryotic organism (humans, whales, and corn plants) divide/replicate and arrange themselves in organized structures, called tissues. This cell division process is called mitosis. In contrast, a single-celled prokaryotic organism (for example bacteria) divides in a process called binary fission.
During mitosis, the nucleus and its contents must be carefully divided between the two, new daughter cells. This means that all the chromosomes must be lined up in a 'dance' and carefully pulled apart - using very interesting cell machinery and feedback mechanisms (see the animation video below). When you see and begin to understand the complexity and beauty of this molecular-scale process, biology and biotechnology become extremely interesting!
Lab: The topic of cell division is critical to understanding cancer, which is actually 200 separate diseases which affect various tissues in the body. Part of our lab will be an interesting case study on a famous woman named Henrietta Lacks.
Lecture outline
The cell cycle: "I Played My Accordion Today"
Interphase consists of:
Mitotic phase consists of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
The cell must pass quality-control "checkpoints" along the way (G1, G2, M) before going on to the next phase of the cell cycle - just like a factory operates.
The cell cycle: "I Played My Accordion Today"
- Interphase
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
Interphase consists of:
- G1 phase - cell growth
- S phase - the DNA replicates
- G2 phase - cell gets ready for mitosis, or cell division
Mitotic phase consists of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
- This is where the nucleus and its contents get carefully divided
- A lot of very interesting, complex nanomachines involved in this process, as we will see from the video clips
The cell must pass quality-control "checkpoints" along the way (G1, G2, M) before going on to the next phase of the cell cycle - just like a factory operates.
| Lecture slides: Mitosis |
Videos below: we will spend some time reviewing/discussing these clips in class
Below: another excellent 4-min. video on Mitosis (Cell Division)
LABS & HOMEWORK BELOW: There are numerous labs, projects, presentations, and homework exercises posted on this portal. Don't panic. Some of these are current, some are left over from prior years, and some are just "parked" here for future use. DO NOT WORK ON A LAB OR HOMEWORK EXERCISE unless it has been assigned in your weekly class email! Due to the 2020-2021 Covid-19 situation, I will assign labs and homework as we go along based on what we are able to do.
LABS & HOMEWORK BELOW: There are numerous labs, projects, presentations, and homework exercises posted on this portal. Don't panic. Some of these are current, some are left over from prior years, and some are just "parked" here for future use. DO NOT WORK ON A LAB OR HOMEWORK EXERCISE unless it has been assigned in your weekly class email! Due to the 2020-2021 Covid-19 situation, I will assign labs and homework as we go along based on what we are able to do.
| 7._mitosis_homework_questions.docx |
Mitosis and Meiosis Lab (aligns with AP Bio lab #7)
This lab exercise will be spread over 2 sessions:
This lab exercise will be spread over 2 sessions:
- Part 1: Modeling mitosis and meiosis with pipe cleaner chromosomes
- Part 2: Karyotyping simulation: You will evaluate 3 patients' case histories, complete their karyotypes, and diagnose any missing or extra chromosomes. Link to Univ. of Arizona Karyotyping Simulation
- Part 3: HeLa Cells case study (see instructions at bottom of page). HeLa cells are cervical cancer cells isolated from a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Her cells have been cultured since 1951 and used innumerous scientific experiments. Henrietta Lacks died from her cancer not long after her cells were isolated. Lacks' cancer cells contain remnants of human papillomavirus (HPV), which we now know increases the risk of cervical cancer.
HeLa Cells (Henrietta Lacks) case study
Our Henrietta Lacks case study will explore a controversial episode involving a cancer patient
Our Henrietta Lacks case study will explore a controversial episode involving a cancer patient
| 7._henrietta_lacks_case_study.docx |