Download Mitosis virtual Lab

Living Environment
Name_______________________________
Harry S Truman High School
Period __________
Virtual Lab: How can cancer cells be recognized?
Reference: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_23/BL_23.html
Background:
Cancer is the uncontrolled mitotic cell division of cells. It is bad because it damages organs and prevents
them from working properly.
Many cancers occur when there is a change in the __________________ of an otherwise normal cell,
causing it to stop listening to the instructions of the body. This change is called a
______________________.
In this investigation you will explore the similarities and differences between the cell cycles of normal
cells and cancer cells.
Objectives:
1. Identify the various phases of the cell cycle.
2. Compare and contrast the cell cycles of normal and cancer cells.
Procedure:
1. Click the TV and Play button and watch the video about the cell cycle.
2. Click on the microscope to see microscope views of tissue samples. Samples vary from Normal
to Cancerous in the “tissue slide” tray beside the microscope.
3. Use the index at the top of the page to identify the phase of mitosis for the sample.
4. Label the phase by dragging the correct word with each phase
5. Once you have identified the phases, click on check and Count and record your answers in the
chart of Tissues samples.
Number of Cells in Each Phase of the Cell Cycle
Think about
it…
Normal
Lung
Cancerous
Lung
Normal
Stomach
Cancerous
Stomach
Normal
Ovary
Cancerous
Ovary
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Are cells in
this phase
resting or
dividing?
Are cells in
this phase
resting or
dividing?
Are cells in
this phase
resting or
dividing?
Are cells in
this phase
resting or
dividing?
Are cells in
this phase
resting or
dividing?
Total # of
cells at rest
(Interphase)
Total # of
cells dividing
(all other
stages)
1. Based on your data and observations, what are some of the Differences between normal cells
and cancer cells? ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which type of cancer shows the most aggressive growth? Explain. ________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. When studying cell division in tissue samples, scientists often calculate a mitotic index, which is
the ratio of dividing cells to the total number of cells in the sample. Scientists often calculate the
mitotic index to compare the growth rates of different types of tissue. Which type of tissue
would have a higher mitotic index, normal tissue or cancerous tissue? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
From the Information Center on the lab…
Lung Cancer Information cigarette smoking; exposure to radiation and/or radon; exposure to industrial
substances, certain organic chemicals, and asbestos ; exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke.
What are some things people can do to decrease their risk of getting Lung Cancer? _________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Ovarian Cancer risk increases with age; women who have never had children are at a higher risk than
those who have had children; women who have had breast cancer or a family history of ovarian cancer
are at increased risk; certain rare genetic disorders are associated with increased risk.
What are some things people can do to decrease their risk of getting Ovarian Cancer? _______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
For the following stages below, identify what stage of mitosis is being shown and briefly describe
what is happening inside the cell.
Stage Name with Brief Description
Order in Cell
Cycle (1-5)