Topic 1.6:  Cell Division

Essential Idea:  Cell division is essential but must be controlled.
At SHS, Topic 1.6 is taught in the following class unit(s):

Statements & Objectives:

1.6.U1  Mitosis is division of the nucleus into two genetically identical daughter nuclei.
  • State the function of mitosis.
  • List four processes which involve mitosis.
  • State the names of the four phases of mitosis.
  • Draw typical eukaryotic cells as they would appear during the interphase and the four phases of mitosis.
  • Outline four events that occur during prophase.
  • Outline the process of metaphase, inclusive of the role of microtubules and the kinetochore.
  • Outline the process of anaphase.
  • Outline four events that occur during telophase.​
1.6.U2  Chromosomes condense by supercoiling during mitosis.
  • Describe the structure of a replicated chromosome, include the centromere and sister chromatids.
  • Explain why chromosomes must condense during mitosis.
1.6.U3  Cytokinesis occurs after mitosis and is different in plants and animal cells.
  • Define cytokinesis.
  • State the difference between mitosis and cytokinesis.
  • Contrast cytokinesis in plant and animal cells. 
  • Describe the formation of the cleavage furrow in animal cell cytokinesis.
  • Describe the formation of the middle lamella and cell wall in plant cell cytokinesis.​
1.6.U4  Interphase is a very active phase of the cell cycle with many processes occurring in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
  • List example metabolic reactions occurring during cell interphase.
  • Outline events of G1, S, G2 and G0 phases of interphase.​
1.6.U5  Cyclins are involved in the control of the cell cycle.
  • Explain the role of cyclin and cyclin-CDK complexes in controlling the cell cycle. 
  • State the role of cyclins D, B, A and E in the cell cycle.​
1.6.U6  Mutagens, oncogenes and metastasis are involved in the development of primary and secondary tumors.
  • Define tumor, benign, malignant, metastasis, cancer, mutagen and carcinogen.
  • Describe why mutagens are not necessarily carcinogens.
  • Describe how cancer arises, referring to accumulation of mutations over time.
  • Explain the relationship between oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and cancer.​
1.6.A1  The correlation between smoking and incidence of cancers.
  • Explain the use of correlations to determine the relationship between two variables (inclusive of positive and negative correlations).
  • Explain why the existence of a correlation does not necessitate a causal relationship between two variables. 
  • Calculate a correlation coefficient using Pearson's R.
  • Determine if a correlation coefficient value is significant.
  • Define significant as related to the relationship between two variables.
  • Use epidemiological case study information to outline the relationships between smoking and cancer.​
1.6.S1  Identification of phases of mitosis in cells viewed with a microscope or in a micrograph.
  • Determine the phase of mitosis of a cell viewed in a micrograph or with a microscope.
1.6.S2  Determination of a mitotic index from a micrograph
  • State the formula for calculation of a mitotic index.
  • Calculate the mitotic index of a tissue as seen in a micrograph.
  • Outline the use of mitotic index calculations in diagnosis and treatment of cancer
1.6.NOS  Serendipity and scientific discoveries- the discoveries of cyclins was accidental.
  • Outline the discovery of cyclins including the role of serendipity. ​

In the News:
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."  -  John Muir,   1911