Cell Cycle

Actively dividing eurkyote cells faster, a series of stages known collectively as the Cell Cycle

Two gap phases g1 and g2 and S for synthesis phase in which the genetic material is duplicated and an M
phase in which mitosis partitions the genetic materials and the cell divides.

- Different stages of the cell cycle –

Mitosis – is a form of eukaryotic cell division that produces two daughter cells with the same genetic
component as the parent cell. Chromosome replicated during the S phase are divided in such a way as to
ensure that each daughter cell receives a copy of every chromosome. In actively dividing animal cells, the
whole process takes about one hour.
- Mitosis although a continuous process is conventionally divided into four stages. The prophase,
metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

 Prophase – occupies over half of mitosis, the nuclear membrane breaks down to form a number of
small vesicles and the nucleolus disintegrates.
- A structure known as the centrosome duplicates itself to form two daughter centrosomes that
migrates to opposite ends of the cell. The centrosomes organize the production of microtubules
that form the spindle fibers that constitute the mitotic spindle. The chromosomes condense into
compact structure, each replicated chromosomes can now be seen to consist of two identical
chromatids or sister chromatids held together by a structure known as the centromere.
 Metaphase – the chromosomes align themselves along the metaphase plate of the spindle
apparatus. When chromosomes become arranged so that their centromeres become aligned in one
place, halfway between the spindle poles, the long axis of the chromosomes are 90 o to the spindle
axis. The plane of the alignment is called the metaphase plate
 Anaphase – is the shortest stage of mitosis, the centromeres divide and the sister chromatids of
each chromosomes are pulled apart or disjoined and moved to the opposite ends of the cell pulled
by spindle fibers attached to the kinetochore regions. The separated sister chromatids are now
referred to as daughter chromosomes it is the alignment and separation in the metaphase and
anaphase that is important in ensuring that each daughter cell receives a copy of every
chromosomes.
 Telophase – the final stage of mitosis and a reversal of many of the processes observed during
prophase.
- The nuclear membrane reforms around the chromosomes grouped at cell, the chromosomes
uncoil and become diffuse, and the spindle fibers disappear, The two sets of progeny chromosomes
are assembled into two groups at opposite ends of the cell.

Cytokinesis – is the final cellular division to form two new cells. In plants, a cell plate forms along the line of
the metaphase clay. In animals, there is a constriction of the cytoplasm. The cell then enters interface which is
the interval between mitotic divisions.

Meiosis – is the form of eukaryotic cell division that produces supplied sex cells or gametes from diploid cells.
The process takes the form of the one DNA replication followed by two successive nuclear and cellular divisions
which is the meiosis I and meiosis II. As in mitosis, meiosis is produced by a process of DNA replication that
converts each chromosomes into two sister chromatids.
 Meiosis I – separate the pairs of homologous chromosomes, during sexual reproduction gametes
combine in fertilization to reconstitute the deployed complements found in parental cells. The process
involves two successive divisions of a diploid use. In meiosis I, a special cell division reduces the cell
from diploid to haploid
 - Different stages of meiosis I –

Prophase I – the homologous chromosomes pair and exchange DNA to form recombinant
chromosomes
- Divided into five phases; Leptotene which is chromosome start to condense
Zygotene homologous chromosomes become closely associate to form pairs of chromosomes
consisting of four chromatids.
Pachytene crossing over between pairs of homologous chromosomes to form chiasmata.
Diplotene homologous chromosomes start to separate but remain attached by chiasmata.
Diakinesis homologous chromosomes continue to separate and chiasmata moved to the ends of the
chromosomes.

Metaphase I – the spindle apparatus is completely formed and the microtubules are attached to the
centromere regions of the homologous. The synapsis tetrads are found aligned at the metaphase plate
instead of only replicated chromosomes.
Anaphase I – chromosomes in each tetrad separate and migrate toward the opposite poles. The
sister chromatids remain attached at their respective centromere regions.
Telephase I – the chromosomes become diffuse and the nuclear membrane reforms. Each has a
nucleus containing only one set of chromosomes or the haploid level in a replicated form. In most
species cytokinesis follows producing two daughter cells. Cytokinesis is the final cellular division to
form two new cells followed by meiosis II. Meiosis I is a reduction division, the original diploid cell had
two copies of each chromosome. The newly formed haploid cells have the only one copy of each
chromosomes.

 Meiosis II – separates each chromosomes into two chromatids, the events in the second meiotic
division are quite similar to mitotic division. The difference lies, however in the number of
chromosomes that each daughter cell receives while the original chromosome number is maintained in
mitosis. The number is reduced to half in meiosis, prophase II the diodes contract. Metaphase II, the
centromeres are directed to the equatorial plate and then divide anaphase II the sister chromatids
move away from each other and migrate to opposite poles of the spindle fibers and telophase II, the
monads are the poles forming two groups of chromosomes. A nuclear membrane forms around each
set of chromsomes and cytokinesis follows. The chromosomes and coil and extend and finally the
cytokinesis the telophase stage of mitosis is accompanied by cytokinesis. The two nuclei are
compartmentalized into separate daughter cells and complete the mitotic cell division process. In
animal cell, cytokinesis occur by the formation of a constriction in the middle of the cell until two
daughter cells are formed. The constriction is often called cleavage or cell furrow however in most
plant cell, this, construction is not evident instead a new cell membrane and cell wall are assembled
between the two nuclei to form a cell plate. Each side of cell plate is coated with a cell wall that
eventually forms the two protein cells.