Download Modeling the Cell Cycle

Biology
Activity
Name__________________
Date__________Hour_____
Modeling the Cell Cycle
There are a number of cells, such as your skin cells, the cells lining your gastrointestinal tract, and
your hair follicle cells that are dividing at this very moment inside of your body. It requires a good amount of
energy and resources to produce new cells, so why must your body do this? Well, you must replace dead
and dying cells. Plus, as your cells live they grow larger, as the volume of the cell increases the surface
area is not large enough to support the uptake and output of the molecules the cell needs.
The cell cycle controls the rate and the timing of your cells growth and division. You grow because
existing cells in your body divide forming two identical cells. When a cell divides it forms an identical copy
called a daughter cell. The daughter cell is an exact replica of the original cell and both cells have an exact
copy of each of your 46 chromosomes. The cell begins in the G1 phase, where the cell grows and
produces proteins for the body. During the S phase (synthesis phase) of the cell cycle, an exact copy of
each chromosome is made in the nucleus. The cell continues to grow in the G2 phase. During the M
(mitosis) phase the chromosomes go through a process that places one copy of each chromosome into the
existing cell and the daughter cell. Mitosis insures that both the existing cell and the daughter cell receives
a copy of each chromosome. (Remember, you have 46 molecules of DNA called chromosomes in the
nucleus of almost every cell in your body.)
You are not the only organism that undergoes mitosis. Plants, protists, and fungi all undergo
mitosis, too. Bacteria go through a similar process called binary fission. Asexual reproduction refers to the
production of new identical cells from previous existing cells.
Objective: Use the mitosis kits to model the phases of mitosis.
Directions: This assignment is worth 10 points (5 points for your work & 5 points for the quiz).
 Obtain a mitosis kit. Each mitosis kit contains the following: 2 copies of a short green chromosome, 2
copies of a long green chromosome, 2 copies of a short pink chromosome, 2 copies of a long pink
chromosome, 1 red nuclear membrane, and 2 sets of spindle fibers made of fishing line.
 On your table, arrange the pieces of the kit to represent the stages of the cell cycle. Use Section 10.2 of
your textbook for help.
 Draw a colored picture of the arrangement of your chromosomes at each stage in the space provided.
 Answer the questions.
 Show the teacher your work and then take the performance quiz.
 Be sure to return all pieces of the mitosis kit to the envelope in the condition you received them.
1 - G1 (Gap 1)
2 - S (Synthesis)
Arrange 4 chromosomes in the center
Each chromosome makes an identical
of your cell. Draw a picture of your cell.
copy of itself.
Add a copy of each chromosome to the nucleus
of the cell. The two copies of each chromosome
should appear to be attached. Draw a picture of
your cell.
1. Label the cell membrane, nucleus, and chromosomes.
2. List the number of chromatids shown in G1.
3. List the number of chromatids in S.