Mitosis

• Surface area


  How much space the outside of an object covers
• Volume


  The amount of space or matter inside the object
• Surface Area to Volume ratio

  • The ratio of surface area to volume decreases as a cell gets bigger
  • This affects the speed and efficiency of the cell
• Higher surface area to volume ratio


  Faster and more efficient for cells to diffuse and transport material and easier for cellular communication
• Chromatin


  The less condensed form of DNA and proteins found in the nucleus during interphase
• Chromosomes


  The condensed form of chromatin after duplication in which two sister chromatids are held together at the centromere
• Sister chromatids


  Condensed structures of identical copies of DNA
• Chromatid


  One half of the duplicated chromosome
• Cell Cycle


  The cycle or phases of a cell growing and dividing
• Stages of Interphase


  • Gap 1 (G1) - cell grows and matures and carries out normal cellular functions
  • Synthesis (S) - cell duplicates its DNA
  • Gap 2 (G2) - cell prepares for cell division
• Mitosis


  The stage of the cell cycle during which the cell's nucleus and nuclear material divide
• Stages of Mitosis


  • Prophase - Chromatin condenses into chromosomes, nuclear membrane begins to disappear, spindle fibers begin to form
  • Metaphase - Spindle fibers attach to centromeres and line up chromosomes
  • Anaphase - Spindle fibers shorten and pull apart sister chromatids
  • Telophase - Chromosomes relax back into chromatin, two nuclear membranes begin to form
• Cytokinesis


  The cell begins to divide its cytoplasm to divide into two new identical cells
• Cytokinesis in animal cells


  • Cleavage furrow forms and the cells pinch off to form two new cells
• Cytokinesis in plant cells


  • A new structure called the cell plate forms instead of the cleavage furrow between the two new cells