Mitosis

How do living things grow and repair themselves?

Why?
Living things must grow and develop. At times they suffer injuries or damage, or cells simply wear out.
New cells must be formed for the organism to survive. What process must occur to make a new, properly-
functioning cell?

Model 1 – Mitosis as Part of the Cell Cycle

Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase

(Nuclear Division)
Mitosis
Centriole
Replicated Nuclear
chromosome membrane

(Cytoplasmic Division)
Spindle fibers
(2 sister
chromatids)

Cytokinesis
1. Refer to Model 1. List the four phases in the mitosis process.

G1 Cytokinesis G2
2. Where is mitosis in the cell cycle? Before _________________ and after _________________.
3. What three phases of the cell cycle are considered interphase?
G1 synthesis and G2

4. Refer to the cell cycle shown. G0

a. How many cells are present at the beginning of mitosis?

G1

1 *
M
b. How many cells are present at the end of mitosis? (including cytokinesis)

2 G2

Mitosis 1
 5. Refer to the chromosomes in the cells in Model 1.
a. Draw a single chromosome as it appears in Model 1.

b. Draw a replicated chromosome as it appears in Model 1.

c. How many chromatids are in each replicated chromosome?

two chromatids per replicated chromosomes
6. How many replicated chromosomes are in the original cell shown in Model 1 during prophase?
Hint: When counting chromosomes, count “1” for a pair of sister chromatids.
four replicated chromosomes are in the original cell

7. How many single chromosomes are in each of the new cells in telophase?
four single chromosomes are in each of the new cells

8. As a group, write a grammatically correct sentence that explains what a chromosome is and why
it is important.
a chromosome is made of DNA wrapped around proteins
9. Refer to the cells in telophase in Model 1.
a. Use a complete sentence to describe what the new cells in telophase might contain if replica-
tion of chromosomes did not occur before cytokinesis.
The new cell might contain only half the original number of chromosomes or a cell may contain more
chromosomes than the other if replicated
b. If the situation in part a occurred, would the new cells be viable? Explain.

The cell would not be viable because they would not have a complete set of DNA which would affect cell
processes

10. The S phase stands for synthesis, which means to make or build something more complex out of
simpler parts. Scientists know that during the S phase DNA is being made in the nucleus of the
cell. Why do you think the cell needs to make more DNA at this time in the cell cycle?
the cell copies the chromosome material so there is enough to make two new cells

11. Refer to Model 1. The chromosomes that are shaped like “X” (made of two sister chromatids)
have double the amount of DNA than the chromosomes that are shaped like “I.” During what
phase of the cell cycle do you think the chromosomes are replicated (copied)?
synthesis

2 POGIL™ Activities for High School Biology

 12. Refer to Model 1.
a. In which phase of mitosis do you see the spindle fibers forming?
the spindle fibers start to form in prophase
b. At what phase of mitosis do the replicated chromosomes (sister chromatids) separate?

anaphase
c. In which phase do you see that the spindle fibers have disappeared?
the spindle fibers disappear during telophase

d. Look at metaphase and anaphase. Suggest the purpose of the spindle fibers during mitosis.
the spindle fibers separate the replicated chromosomes and more each singe chromosomes to opposite
sides of the cell

13. Refer to Model 1.

a. Describe what happens to the nuclear membrane after prophase.
the nuclear membrane is disintegrating
b. Explain why it is necessary that the nuclear membrane disintegrates during mitosis.
the nuclear membrane must be temporarily removed so the chromosomes can be divided into the new cell

c. At what point during mitosis has the nuclear membrane reformed?

the nuclear membrane reforms during telophase
14. What is actually dividing during cytokinesis?
the cytoplasm of the cell and its non nuclear contents are divided in cytokinesis

15. Cellular division has two parts—mitosis is the division of the nucleus and cytokinesis is the
division of the cell into two new cells. Explain why mitosis has to come before cytokinesis in
the cell cycle.
the contents of the nucleus must be duplicated and the chromosomes must be correctly divided up before
the actual cell can divide into two new cells

16. During cytokinesis the chromosomes unwind and become a pile of very long, thin, thread-like
DNA and the cell goes back to looking “normal” until mitosis begins again. Brainstorm with
your group ideas why the DNA must coil up into chromosome structures before it divides.
understanding the concepts on how it divides

Mitosis 3
 17. Fill in the table below where each of the phases of nuclear and cell division is listed in the left
hand column and write a description of what is happening during that phase in the right hand
column.

Phase of Cellular Description of what is occurring

Division in the cell during this phase.
P
chromosomes condense and the membrane starts to breakdown

M
chromosomes line up in the middle

A
sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite ends of the cells

T
Nuclear membrane reforms around the separated chromatids

C
the cell membrane pinches in and divides the cytoplasm to form two
daughter cells

18. In some cells, mitosis occurs without cytokinesis. What would the resulting cell look like?
cell that looks like it's about to split

19. Explain the importance of mitosis of cells in a skinned knee and during the growth of a plant.

it can regenerate new cells

20. With your group, consider the effect on a cell if the sister chromatids did not line up correctly
during metaphase. For example, if some lined up side by side instead of single file along the
middle, how might this affect the resulting cells?

the chromosomes would not be divided accurately

4 POGIL™ Activities for High School Biology

Extension Questions
21. Colchicine is a poison that acts to inhibit the development of spindle fibers. Describe the effects
on mitosis in a cell that has been treated with colchicine.

the spindle fibers would not form correctly so chromosomes would not be able to divide correctly or more to
the appropriate position

22. Binary fission is cell division in prokaryotic organisms (bacteria), which have no nucleus. In
addition, prokaryotic cells typically have only one circular chromosome. Together with your
group, predict how binary fission in prokaryotic cells might be different than mitosis in
eukaryotic organisms.
it is similar to mitosis where multiple replicated chromosomes must split to carefully. binary fission is less
complex because there is no nucleus.

Mitosis 5