Mitosis and the cell cycle

• Chromosomes carry genetic information in a molecule called DNA.
• A type of cell division called mitosis ensures that when a cell divides each new cell produced has the same genetic information.
• The cell cycle is the series of stages that a cell goes through as it is growing and dividing.
• The first stages of the cell cycle involve cell growth, then synthesis of DNA.
• The single strand of DNA that makes up each chromosome produces an exact copy of itself.
• In mitosis, two cells called daughter cells are produced, each identical to the parent cell.
• When a cell divides, the new cells produced are called daughter cells.
• The length of different stages of the cell cycle can be estimated using the formula: Length of time in phase = \(\frac {observed number of cells at that stage}{total number of cells observed} \times \text {total length of time of cell cycle}\).
• Dr Alex Lathbridge breaks down the key facts about cell division.