Cell division & heredity · Topic 12 of 17

Cell Cycle, Mitosis & Differentiation

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Biology · cell division

Interphase grows the cell and copies its DNA; mitosis (PMAT) and cytokinesis then make two genetically identical daughter cells.

01 · The cycleInterphase → mitosis → cytokinesis

02 · MitosisMitosis → 2 identical cells

03 · OrderProphase → Metaphase → Anaphase → Telophase

Cell cycle = interphase, then the mitotic phase (mitosis + cytokinesis) must know

Mitosis: 1 nucleus → 2 identical nuclei, same chromosome number must know

Differentiation: unspecialized cells become specialized (nerve, muscle…)

Stem cell: unspecialized, self-renewing, can become specialized cells

Step by step

G1: the cell grows and gathers materials

S phase: DNA copied → 2 sister chromatids joined at the centromere

G2: more growth and final preparation for mitosis

Step by step

Prophase: chromosomes condense; nuclear envelope breaks down; spindle forms

Metaphase: chromosomes line up at the middle (metaphase plate)

Anaphase: sister chromatids pulled apart to opposite poles

Telophase: chromosomes uncoil and two new nuclei form

Binary fission: bacteria copy 1 circular chromosome and split in 2 — no mitosis

Mitosis order: prophase → metaphase → anaphase → telophase (PMAT) must know

Cytokinesis splits the cytoplasm: animal = cleavage furrow, plant = cell plate

Commonly confused

	Mitosis	Binary fission
Who does it	Eukaryotic cells	Prokaryotes (bacteria)
Nucleus	Yes — the nucleus divides	None
DNA	Chromosomes copied in S phase	One circular chromosome copied
Result	2 identical daughter cells	2 identical daughter cells

Interphase is not "rest" — the cell grows and copies DNA; most cells are in it

Show 5 more facts

Same DNA in every cell — differentiation = different genes switched on

Totipotent → pluripotent (embryonic) → multipotent (adult, e.g. bone marrow)

G0: cells that stop dividing (e.g. mature nerve and heart muscle cells)

3 checkpoints (G1, G2/M, metaphase) halt division when something is wrong

Cancer = uncontrolled cell division from mutated cycle-control genes

Pearl

Interphase gets the cell ready, PMAT splits the nucleus, cytokinesis splits the cell.

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