Mitosis and the Cell Cycle

• Cells divide in a series of stages called the cell cycle
• During the cell cycle, the genetic material is doubled then divided into two identical cells
• Before a cell can divide it needs to grow and increase the number of sub cellular structures such as ribosomes and mitochondria. The DNA replicates to form two copies of each chromosome
• In mitosis, one set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides
• Finally, the cytoplasm and cell membranes divide to form two identical cells
• Stages of the cell cycle:

  1. Interphase - the cell gets ready to divide. The cell grown, DNA duplicates and more organelles are made
  2. Mitosis - the genetic material separates to different ends of the cell, and the cell gets ready to divide into two daughter cells
  3. Cytokinesis - at the end of mitosis, the cytoplasm and cell membrane split, and two new daughter cells are made
• Cell divine by mitosis is important in the growth and development of multicellular organisms