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
o
Centriole
Replicated Nuclear
chromosome membrane

(Cytoplasmic Division)
Spindle fibers
(2 sister
chromatids)

Cytokinesis
ie

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

G
2. Where is mitosis in the cell cycle? Before _________________ and after _________________. Ge
3. What three phases of the cell cycle are considered interphase?

4. Refer to the cell cycle shown. G0

sisÉÉ
a. How many cells are present at the beginning of mitosis?
G1
*
M
ere
b. How many cells are present at the end of mitosis? (including cytokinesis)

G2

Ge
Growth t
S
Tittersican
Ifaivision
Mitosis 1
 5. Refer to the chromosomes in the cells in Model 1.
a. Draw a single chromosome as it appears in Model 1.

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

X
c. How many chromatids are in each replicated chromosome?

2
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.

7.
4
How many single chromosomes are in each of the new cells in telophase?
2 Cel's
4 S
8. As a group, write a grammatically correct sentence that explains what a chromosome is and why

É
it is important. on
cell in the body that is important because
9. Refer to the cells in telophase in Model 1. hold DNA Building blocks of organism
containsinfofor what
a. Use a complete sentence to describe what the new cells in telophase might contain if replica-gong
tion of chromosomes did not occur before cytokinesis.

Only one chromosome in each cell imbalance between

b. If the situation in part a occurred, would the new cells be viable? Explain. Chromosomes

No lacks enough Chromosomes

won't the right info to build Proteins

Cell would not develop properly
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?

Needs to split so both halves have the

correct amount of DNA
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 is where chromosomes become more

complex Copying itself and adding complexity
Where DNA is replicated
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?

Metaphase 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?

telophase
d. Look at metaphase and anaphase. Suggest the purpose of the spindle fibers during mitosis.

controls the movement

pulling away
13. Refer to Model 1.
a. Describe what happens to the nuclear membrane after prophase.

breaksdown disappears
b. Explain why it is necessary that the nuclear membrane disintegrates during mitosis.

so they can move freely

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

Telophase
14. What is actually dividing during cytokinesis?

Cytoplasm
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.

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.

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

18. In some cells, mitosis occurs without cytokinesis. What would the resulting cell look like?

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

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?

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.

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.

Mitosis 5