Download The Cell Cycle COLORING

The Cell Cycle Reading and Coloring
Directions: Read the passage below and highlight or underline the important information. Use the
information provided in the reading to color the picture of the cell cycle provided, and answer the
questions on the back of this page.
The cells of living things grow and divide through a cycle that is divided into two major phases. During
the first major phase, the cell is growing, getting larger and preparing to divide. During the second major
phase, the cell is actually dividing, which results in the formation of two new cells called daughter cells.
The cell cycle (A on your drawing) is all of the stages in the life of a cell, from the time the cell is
formed, to the time it divides into two new cells. In other words, it is the life cycle of a cell. The cell cycle is
divided into two major phases that are, in turn, divided into sub-phases. The two major phases of the cell cycle
are interphase (B on your drawing) and the mitotic phase (C on your drawing). Color the cell cycle section of
your drawing black, the interphase section of your drawing dark blue, and the mitotic phase section of your
drawing red.
Interphase is a period of growth and preparation. During interphase, the cell is extremely active and
carries on the regular routines of the cell. It is also getting larger and preparing to divide into two new daughter
cells. Interphase is divided into three different sub-phases. They are the G1 or Gap 1 phase (D), the S or
Synthesis phase (E), and the G2 or Gap 2 phase (F). During G1, the cell is making a lot of proteins and is
growing very rapidly. The cell’s organelles also increase in number and size. Color the G1 phase of your
drawing dark green. The second phase of interphase is the S phase. During the S phase, DNA replication
occurs. This means that the cell makes an exact copy of its DNA so that when the cell divides, each new
daughter cell will have its own copy of DNA. The “S” in S phase stands for synthesis, which means to create
something new. In the S phase, a new molecule of DNA that is exactly the same as the original strand is
created. The replication of DNA creates sister chromatids that are held together by the centromere. Color the S
phase of your drawing yellow. The third and last phase of interphase is the G2 phase. During the G2 phase, the
cell grows some more and gets ready to divide. More of the proteins that are necessary for cell division are
produced, and these proteins move to the appropriate places in the cell. Color the G2 phase of your drawing
orange. Throughout interphase, the DNA is in the form of chromatin.
After the G2 phase of interphase is complete, the cell enters the second major phase of the cell cycle,
which is the mitotic phase.. The mitotic phase is divided into two sub-phases: mitosis (H) and cytokinesis (G).
Mitosis is the first sub-phase of the mitotic phase. During mitosis, the chromosomes separate to opposite sides
of the cell. At the end of mitosis, the original nucleus has divided into two new nuclei, but the rest of the cell
has not completely divided yet. Color the mitosis section of your drawing brown. Mitosis is further divided into
four shorter stages: prophase (H1), metaphase (H2), anaphase (H3), and telophase (H4). You will learn more
about what happens during these four sub phases later. Color the prophase section of your drawing light
green, the metaphase section of your drawing light blue, the anaphase section of your drawing purple, and the
telophase section of your drawing pink. The second sub-phase of the mitotic phase, and the last phase of the
entire cell cycle, is cytokinesis. During cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the cell divides and the cell actually splits
into two new cells. At the end of cytokinesis, the original cell, called the mother cell, has completely divided into
two new daughter cells. Each daughter cell is identical to the original mother cell and to each other. Once they
have formed, each daughter cell will enter interphase and the cycle will be repeated. Color the cytokinesis
section of your drawing gray. Color the mother cell and daughter cells any colors you choose that have not yet
been used!
The Cell Cycle Questions
Directions: Use the cell cycle reading and coloring to answer the questions below. You do NOT need
to use complete sentences.
1. Define the cell cycle in your own words.
2. What two main phases is the cell cycle divided into?
3. List the 3 sub-phases of interphase and briefly describe what happens in each one.
4. What does the “S” of “S” phase stand for? Why is this a good name for this sub-phase of interphase?
5. What is the name of the phase in which the nucleus divides and chromosomes move to opposite sides
of the cell?
6. List the stages of mitosis.
6. What happens during cytokinesis?
7. What happens to the daughter cells once they are created?
8. Put all of the phases and sub-phases of the cell cycle into outline form showing which sub-phases belong under which
larger phases.
The Cell Cycle COLORING
○ The cell cycle = A
○ Interphase = B
○ Mitotic Phase = C
○ G Phase = D
1
○ S Phase = E
○ G Phase = F
○ Cytokinesis = G
○ Mitosis = H
2
○ Prophase = H
○ Metaphase = H
○ Anaphase = H
○ Telophase = H
1
2
3
4
○ Mother Cell = a
○ Daughter Cells = b