NexGen Academy

  • Home
  • About
  • Classes
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Algebra I
    • Geometry
    • Algebra II
    • Pre-calculus
    • Calculus I
    • Economics & U.S. Gov
    • Principles of Engineering
    • Business Management
  • SCHEDULE
  • CLASS FEES
  • POLICIES
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Classes
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Algebra I
    • Geometry
    • Algebra II
    • Pre-calculus
    • Calculus I
    • Economics & U.S. Gov
    • Principles of Engineering
    • Business Management
  • SCHEDULE
  • CLASS FEES
  • POLICIES
  • Contact

Unit 5: Mitosis and the Cell Cycle

Reading
BJU Biology: Review 2.6, and then read Ch. 5A - "Genes, Chromosomes, and Cell Division" 
AP Classroom: Unit 4 - "Cell Communication and Cell Cycle" 

Topics
  • The cell cycle (I Played My Accordion Today) 
  • DNA replication
  • Mitosis 

Labs which illustrate the topics
​As always, we will do as many of these as time allows. 
  • Gene Switches lab (the Lac Operon) 
  • ​Henrietta Lacks Case Study (HeLa cells) 
  • The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer weblab. (HHMI) Instructions are posted in the next unit.
  • Karyotyping weblab (Univ. of Arizona) 
  • Pipe cleaner mitosis lab (this works very well as a visual aid) 
Picture
Picture
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. 

When a cell divides, it must first replicate all its DNA so that each daughter cell receives a complete copy. DNA replication occurs in all living organisms - humans, whales, finches, corn plants, and fruit flies. 

​Copying of the DNA is accomplished by the process of DNA replication - also known as DNA synthesis. This occurs in the S phase of the cell cycle. After that particular cell - let's say a skin cell - completes its synthesis phase, it then moves on the G2 phase - hopefully passes through the G2 quality checkpoint - and ultimately moves on to the mitosis phase where it actually divides. 

In eukaryotes (humans, pea plants, dolphins, and yeast) DNA replication occurs in the nucleus - after all, that's where the DNA resides. 

In prokaryotes (think: bacteria) DNA replication occurs right out in the cytoplasm itself, because that's where bacterial DNA resides. 
The cell cycle:  "I Perfectly Played My Accordion Today"
  1. Interphase
  2. Prometaphase
  3. Prophase
  4. Metaphase
  5. Anaphase
  6. Telophase
Lecture slides: Mitosis
File Size: 3334 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

10._dna_replication_lecture_slides_2023.pptx
File Size: 2605 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

Below: another excellent 4-min. video on Mitosis (Cell Division)

Homework
7._mitosis_homework_questions_rev._2022.docx
File Size: 19 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

10._dna_replication_homework_questions_2023.docx
File Size: 21 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

HeLa Cells case study
Our Henrietta Lacks case study will explore a controversial episode involving a cancer patient
henrietta_lacks_case_study_2022.docx
File Size: 184 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

kjohanson@nexgenacademy.org
Website by Sarah