Download Name Per ____ Onion Root Tip Mitosis In this activity, you will look

Name _____________________________
Per ____
Onion Root Tip Mitosis
In this activity, you will look pictures of onion root tips under the microscope. Cells
divide rapidly at the tip of a root, so it is easy to find different cells at different stages of
mitosis. You will classify different cells into different stages, then figure out about how
much time cells spend at each stage of the cell cycle.
1. Why do root cells divide rapidly?
2. What are the 5 phases of mitosis? Fill in the following table, including a sketch of
each phase (use your notes):
Phase:
Sketch:
Tally up the number of cells in the picture in each phase and record your data in the
table below.
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Number of
cells
Percent of
cells
Total
100%
4. Of the five stages of cell division, which one takes the most time to complete?
5. Which is the shortest stage in duration?
6. What would happen if the process of mitosis skipped metaphase?
7. Would you expect to find more cells in interphase at the root tip or in the stem or leaf
of a plant? Explain.