Big Picture

The cell cycle is the life cycle of a cell. A cell spends its life growing, replicating DNA, performing other life functions, and dividing. For eukaryotic cells, the cell cycle consists of two general phases: interphase and the mitotic phase. Cell division is part of the life cycle for almost every cell. It is a more complicated process in eukaryotic than prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotes have multiple chromosomes and many organelles, all of which must be duplicated and separated for the cell to divide.

Key Terms

Mitosis: Process in which the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell divides.

Prophase: First phase of mitosis during which chromatin condense into chromosomes, the nuclear envelope breaks down, centrioles separate, and a spindle begins to form.

Metaphase: Second phase of mitosis during which chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell.

Anaphase: Third phase of mitosis during which sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase: Last stage of mitosis during which chromosomes uncoil to form chromatin, the spindle breaks down, and new nuclear membranes form.

Cytokinesis: Splitting of the cytoplasm to form daughter cells when a cell divides.

Chromatin: Grainy material that DNA forms when it is not coiled into chromosomes.

Chromosome: Coiled structure made of DNA and proteins containing sister chromatids that is the form the genetic material of a cell goes through cell division.

Chromatid: One of two identical copies of a chromo-some that are joined together at a centromere be-fore a cell divides.

Centromere: Region of sister chromatids where they are joined together.

Homologous Chromosomes: Pair of chromosomes that have the same size and shape and contain the same genes.

Metaphase Plate: The invisible line at the equator(center)of the cell where the chromosomes containing the sister chromatids line up during metaphase.

Cell Plate: The structure that forms during cytokinesis in plants and eventually leads to the plasma membrane and cell wall of the two daughter plants.

Cell Cycle

For prokaryotes, the cell cycle is simple: the cell grows, DNA replicates, the cell divides.
For eukaryotes, the cell cycle is more complex. It includes two main phases: interphase and mitotic phase.

Interphase

Interphase includes the growth phase1(G1),synthesis phase(S),and growth phase2(G2).A phase out of the cell cycle isG0,which the cell enters when it needs to rest temporarily or reaches a point in its life when it can no longer replicate.

During G1,the cell’s main job is to grow. It creates copies of its organelles in preparation for cell division as well as the necessary proteins for DNA replication.
In the synthesis phase, the cell’s DNA is replicated.
During G2,the cell makes the final preparations to divide, such as making additional proteins and organelles.

There are regulatory proteins that control the cell cycle and make sure the cell is ready to move from one phase to the next. Cancer occurs when the cell cycle is not regulated.

Figure: Cell cycle for eukaryotes

Image Credit: CK-12 Foundation, CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0

Mitotic Phase

A key part of cell division is to create copies of the genetic material.

The mitotic phase includes mitosis and cytokinesis.

Mitosis is a multi-step process in which the nucleus of the cell divides.
Cytokinesis, which comes after mitosis, is the division of the cytoplasm to create two daughter cells.

Biology

Cell Division & Cell Cycle Cont.

Chromatin, Chromosome, and Chromatid

Part of cell division is the replication and division of the genetic material. There are different names for the genetic material depending on the form it takes. It’s important to know the differences between these terms. Make sure you understand when to use each term!

Figure: Different levels of DNA condensation.

(1) Single DNA strand.
(2) Chromatin strand (DNA with histones).
(3) Chromatin during interphase with centromere.
(4) Condensed chromatin during prophase. (Two copies of the DNA molecule are now present)
(5) Chromosome during metaphase.

Image Credit: Magnus Manske, GNU-FDL 1.2

Chromatin

Uncoiled strand of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones; the form DNA takes when the cell is not dividing.

Chromosome

DNA condensed into a transportable form after it has replicated; since DNA has replicated, each chromosome contains two identical copies

Sister chromatids

The identical copies of DNA attached to each other by the centromere.

Homologous chromosome

A pair of chromosomes where the two chromosomes are of the same size and shape and contain the same genes, with each parent contributing one of the chromosomes in the pair.

Binary Fission

Most prokaryotic cells divide by binary fission. Binary fission has three steps:

The DNA is replicated so that there are two identical chromosomes.
The two chromosomes segregate(separate)and move to opposite ends of the cell.
Cytokinesis: a new membrane grows at the center of the cell and the cytoplasm splits apart, forming two daughter cells that are genetically identical to each other and to the parent

Image Credit: JTojnar, CC-BY 3.0

Biology

Cell Division & Cell Cycle Cont.

Mitosis

In eukaryotes, after the cell has grown large enough to divide, it enters mitosis. There are several steps in mitosis:

1) Prophase

longest phase in mitosis
chromatin condenses into chromosome
nuclear membrane breaks down
centrioles, structures found in the cell near the nucleus, separate and move to opposite poles(sides)of the cell
spindle fibers begin to form from the centrioles

A cell in prophase.

2) Metaphase

kinetochores on the spindle fibers attach to the centromere of the chromosomes
chromosomes line up together at the metaphase plate, located at the center of thecell

A cell in metaphase.

3) Anaphase

spindle fibers shorten, pulling apart the sister chromatids to opposite poles
by the end of the phase, each side of the cell has a complete set of chromosomes

A cell in anaphase.

4) Telophase

chromosomes uncoil back into chromatin
nuclear membranes form around the two sets of DNA
spindle fibers break down

To remember the order of the phases of mitosis, remember this mnemonic: People Make A Team Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase

A cell in telophase.

Image Credit: Martha Lee, Public Domain

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis occurs differently for animal cells and plant cells. For animal cells, a cleavage furrow forms and the cytoplasm pinches inwards until two daughter cells are formed. The process is called cleavage. For plant cells, a cell plate forms in the middle of the cell, and then a new plasma membrane and cell wall forms.

If you want to remember the six main steps of cell division, use this mnemonic:
‍Interesting People Make A Team Cooler
‍Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, Cytokinesis

Image Credit: CK-12 Foundation, CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0