Download Framework for Cell division 2

Topic/Learning Activity
Title and syllabus reference:
Cell Continuity – Cell Division
Student Cohort
Student level: Prior knowledge required by the students:
Students have a knowledge of cell structures; cell membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleus, chromosomes in
animal cells and the cell wall in pant cells. Students should understand that genetic information is carried by the
chromosomes from the parent cell to daughter cells. Every student will have heard of or been affected by cancer.
Stimulus to Engage
How do you get the students interested in the topic to start?
4 pictures, 2 words; pictures of a pregnant lady, tumour, cut and streak plate.
Allow the students to work in pairs to come up with the two words which are linking all the pictures.
Get students to observe the ongoing division of yeast cells.
Science Questions
Initial questions leading to the questions students will work on during the activity:
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What is cell continuity/ the continuity of life/ the cell cycle?
Do you know what a gene is?
What do you think is meant by heredity?
What is cancer?
What is a tumour?
Can you distinguish between a malignant and benign tumour?
Give two reasons why cancer cells are said to be abnormal cells?
What are carcinogens? Name two.
Learning Outcomes
Content Knowledge:
Description of cell activities in the state of non-division (interphase) and division (mitosis).
Definition of mitosis, Simple treatment with aid of diagrams.
Primary functions of mitosis in single-celled and multicellular organisms.
Definition and functions of meiosis.
(Taken from Leaving Certificate Syllabus)
Process:
Recognition and recall of the different stages of mitosis and meiosis.
Skills:
Using the microscope correctly to carry out an experiment to look at the 4 stages of mitosis.
http://uccpbank.k12hsn.org/courses/CPBiology/bio_2_3_1_4.swf
Questions during Activity
Questions to drive student learning (directing them to the learning outcomes):
Questions to probe understanding:
Questions to get students thinking about their own learning (metacognition):
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When watching the yeast cells under the microscope, do all cells look the same?
If the cells do not look the same, what is happening?
Explain why the cells in a person’s body are all genetically identical?
If meiosis did not occur, why would sexual reproduction be a problem?
Can you describe the stages of mitosis?
Explain why the rate of mitosis in humans: a) slows down after about 20 years of age? b) Speeds up at
the site of a cut?
What is the importance of mitosis?
Developing the Activity
How do you stimulate students to ask even more questions/think further?
Possible supporting activities:
Two videos: One which shows how cell division leads to new life and another which shows that unregulated cell
division can lead to cancer, which is proving to take an increasing number of lives every year.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeUANxFVXKc )
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Cross curricular links
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Reproduction
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Microorganisms especially fungi. (watching the yeast divide under the microscope)
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Human Defence System – first line of general defence (skin, clotting, cilia : all components of cell
destruction/division)
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Skeleton and Muscles - muscle replenishment, bone development and renewal.
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Vegetative Propagation – flower farms: looking for the best crop of flowers, how is this achieved,
mitosis/meiosis?
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Genetic Engineering – selective cell division changing how organisms naturally work, e.g. sheep
produce human clotting factor, goats produce a protein to treat cystic fibrosis, ethical or non-ethical?
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Variation and Evolution – how mitosis/meiosis has affected this?
Reflecting back to Learning Outcomes
How many of your intended outcomes were achieved?
Do any of your intended outcomes need to be revised?
Additional Resources
Stimulus materials, websites, etc.:
Video on stem cell research: ethical or immoral? Can be used for having a class debate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27skh7prkN0&list=PLCFA2951871205DAD
Video on reproduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqaJqLL49a0&list=PLCFA2951871205DAD )
Video on Dolly the Sheep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoEWYJHf0kU
How has the use of ICT enhanced the learning?
Evidence of enhancement:
Additional Comments