Cell CyCle & Cell division
CONCEPT OF CHROMOSOME, DNA, GENE :
CHROMOSOME :
They are the rod shaped thread like structure in the nucleus made up of DNA & protein which
carries the heredity information.
Chromosomes are appears only during karyokinesis.
There are two chromosomes halves or chromatids, which are
attached to each other by a narrow area called centromere.
DNA :
It is the polynucleotide molecule which contain the genetic
information & packed with protein to form chromosome.
GENE :
It is the segment of DNA that carries the instruction to form
protein / It is the functional part of DNA.
CONCEPT FIGURE OF HAPLOID & DIPLOID :
INTRODUCTION :
According to Rudolf Virchow, every cell arises from pre existing cell.
So with his theory, cells have 3 functions i.e.
(i) Cell division
(ii) Cell growth
(iii) Cell differentiation
Cell growth & cell division happens through a cycle whereas when the cell is out of the cycle, it
undergoes differentiation process.
Various process of cell cycle was controlled by protein cyclins & cyclin dependent protein kinase
(CDKs).
PHASES OF CELL CYCLE :
Cell cycle contains 2 phases i.e.
1. Inter phase
2. M- phase
1. INTER PHASE :
It also called as Preparatory phase/Bio synthetic phase/Resting phase/energy phase.
It required 75% - 95% of total generation time that means for example, In human the total cell
cycle time is approximately 24hr. & inter phase requires 23hr.
It has 3 stages, i.e.
i) G1
ii) S
iii) G2
i) G1 PHASE :
Otherwise called as first growth phase or post mitotic gap phase.
It is the phase between M-phase of previous cell cycle & S-phase.
It is the longest phase of inter phase.
In this phase, the cell is metabolically active & grows continuously.
In this phase RNA, protein, nucleotides, amino acid, histones are synthesized.
In G1 phase the cell has three options, i.e.
A. To continue the cell cycle & enter into the S-phase.
B. Stop the cell cycle & enter to the G0 phase by differentiation process.
C. Get arrested in G1 phase, where it may enter into the G0-phase or enter to the cell cycle.
This phase contain check point named G1 cyclin, which causes the transition of G1 to S phase.
ii) S PHASE :
Otherwise called as synthetic phase.
The main function of this stage is chromosome replication, that means 1C to 2C for haploid &
2C to 4C diploid cells.
Along with DNA replication histone synthesis, centrioles replication, growth of nucleus also occur
in this phase.
This phase is also called as invisible phase because the chromosomes are condensed & not visible
properly.
iii) G2 PHASE :
Otherwise called as second growth phase or pre mitotic gap phase.
DNA synthesis stops but RNA, protein synthesis takes place.
It prepares the cell to undergo division.
In contains second check point named mitotic cyclin, which causes the transition of G2 to
M phase.
2. MITOTIC PHASE (M-PHASE) :
It is the final stage of cell cycle as it represents the stage of actual cell division.
It consists of karyokinesis (division of nucleus) & cytokinesis (division of cytoplasm).
After M-phase, the cell re-enter to the cell cycle or under goes differentiation to reach G0.
G0 PHASE (QUIESCENT STAGE) :
It is the stage of inactivation of cycle due to non availability of mitogenes & energy.
The cell reaches in this stage by the process of differentiation, it means the cell gained a
particular function.
In this stage the cell functions as reserve cell means it can join the cycle at any time.
Cell division
Cell division is the process of formation of new daughter cells from the pre existing parent cells.
It occurs in 3 ways, i.e. amitosis, mitosis & meiosis.
Amitosis is a simple method of cell division, without differentiation of chromosome & spindle
forms two daughter cells. Seen in some protozoa like Paramecium.
MITOSIS :
Mitosis is the type of division in which chromosomes become equally distributed both
qualitatively & quantitatively into two daughter nuclei so that the daughter cells have the same
number & same type of chromosome as that parent.
It is, therefore, called as equational division.
Mitosis was first observed by Strasburger (1870) in plant cell & Flemming (1879) in animal cell.
The term Mitosis was coined by Flemming in 1882.
Mitosis occurs in the formation of somatic body cells & hence often named as somatic cell
division.
The site of mitotic cell division in plants are meristematic region like stem tip, root tip, leaves,
flower, fruits etc.
Mitosis consists of two steps – karyokinesis & cytokinesis
KARYOKINESIS :
It has been divided into four stages or phases. They are prophase, metaphase, anaphase,
telophase.
PROPHASE :
It often studied in two sub-stages i.e. early prophase & late prophase.
It takes more time as compare to other three substages.
In early prophase the nucleus becomes spheroidal & viscosity of cytoplasm increases.
Condensation of chromatin starts.
As the end of chromosomes aren’t visible , they looks like a ball of wool, for which early
prophase is also named as spireme stage.
In late prophase, each chromosome appears to consists of two longitudinal threads called
chromatids (or sister chromatids) are attached each other by a point called centromere.
The nuclear wall along with nucleolus, golgi complex, ER etc. starts disappearing.
The centrioles start moving to the opposite poles.
METAPHASE :
Complete disintegration marks the beginning of metaphase means chromosomes found in the
cytoplasm.
Chromosome condensation complete properly & become shorten & thick. Therefore it is the
best stage to study the morphology of chromosome.
Chromosomes align themselves at equatorial plate/metaphasic plate. This alignment is known as
congression.
Discontinuous fibres named as spindle fibres coming from the two poles & get attached to the
surface of the centromere or kinetochores of each chromosome.
ANAPHASE :
The centromere of each chromosomes divides into two, so that each chromatids have its own
centromere.
The two chromatids now start repelling each other & separate completely to become daughter
chromosomes.
Now, the daughter chromosome moves towards the poles, as a result the anaphasic
chromosome appears V, L- shaped.
At the end of the anaphase two groups of chromosomes are formed at the each pole.
Most spindle fibres disappear from the near poles.
The number & type of the chromosomes at each pole is same as present in the parent nucleus.
TELOPHASE :
It is the final stage of karyokinesis & it is the reverse phase of prophase.
During this phase cytoplasmic viscosity decreases.
The two chromosome groups recognize themselves into nuclei that means nuclear envelope
appears again.
Now the chromosome elongates & overlaps one another to form chromatin.
Golgi complex & ER reformed.
In this way two daughter nuclei are formed at each poles & cell undergoes cytokinesis.
CYTOKINESIS :
It the phase in which the cell divided into two daughter cells that means division of cytoplasm
takes place.
Now the cells get complete division finally.
In an animal cell, cytokinesis is performed by the appearance of a furrow in the plasma
membrane, which gradually deepens and joins in the centre, dividing the cell cytoplasm into two
daughter cells.
In plants, as the cell wall is present the cytokinesis occurs by cell plate method.
In this method, wall formation starts in the centre of the cell and grows outward to meet the
existing lateral walls for which a new wall forms & cell got divided.
At the time of cytoplasmic division the cell organelles also get distributed in between two
daughter cells.
Conceptual figure for details study
SIGNIFICANCE OF MITOSIS :
As somatic cells are formed by mitosis, it has great rule in body growth.
It helps to maintain the chromosome number.
It helps to keep all the somatic cell genetically similar.
It is the method of multiplication of unicellular organism.
An injury healed by repeated mitotic cell division of surrounded cells.
