Chromosomes and mitosis

Cards (9)

What are chromosomes
Structures within the nucleus containing tightly coiled DNA
What do cells do when they prepare to divide
The strands of DNA coil into chromosomes
How many chromosomes do we have
46, 23 Pairs
How many chromosomes do sex cells have
They have 23, and when the sperm fertilises the egg cell, they join together to make a full set of 46
Cell cycle
A series of events that cells go through to grow and divide. the result is the formation of 2 cells identical to the original. these are known as daughter cells
3 stages of the cell cycle
Growth and DNA replication
Mitosis
Cell division
Stage 1 - Growth and DNA replication
The cell increases its subcellular structures, such as mitochondria and ribosomes
The nucleus of the cell replicate their DNA, forming 2 identical x shaped chromosomes
Stage 2 - mitosis
New membranes form around each set of chromosomes to form 2 nuclei
The chromosomes align in the center of the cell and then are pulled apart to the opposite ends of the cell by structures known as cell fibers
Stage 3 - Cell division
New membranes form around each set of chromosomes
The cytoplasm and cell membrane split to form 2 cells