cell cycle Flashcards
what is the cell cycle ?
- a highly ordered sequence of events that take place in a cell
what does the cell cycle result in ?
division of the cell
formation of 2 genetically identical daughter cells
in eukaryotic cells what are the 2 main phases of the cell cycle ?
- interphase
- miotic phase
what is interphase ?
long periods of growth and normal working separate divisions
which phase of the cell cycle does the cell spend most time in ?
interphase
what happens during interphase ?
- cell carries out all of its major functions
- produces enzymes / hormones
- preparing for cell division
- DNA replicated and checked for errors
- protein synthesis
- mitochondria grow and divide
- chloroplasts grow and divide
- normal metabolic processes of cells occur
what are the 3 stages of interphase ?
- G1
- S
- G2
what is G1 ?
- first growth phase
- proteins are produced
- organelles replicate
- cell increases in size
what is S ?
synthesis phase
Dna is replicated
what is G2 ?
- second growth phase
- cell increases in size
- energy stores are increased
- duplicated DNA is checked for errors
what is the miotic phase ?
- period of cell division
what are the 2 main stages of cell division ?
- mitosis
- cytokinesis
what happens during mitosis ?
nucleus divides
what happens during cytokenisis ?
cytoplasm divides and 2 cells are produced
what is G0 ?
- name given to the phase when the cell leaves the cycle either temporarily or permanently
why will the cell enter G0 ?
- differentiation
- DNA damaged
- cells become senescent
why does differentiation result in cells leaving the cell cycle ?
- when a cell becomes specialized it can no longer divide as it will carry out its function indefinitely and won’t enter the cycle again
if a cells DNA becomes damaged why can’t it enter the cycle ?
- it is no longer viable as it is damaged so enters a period of permanent cell arrest
why do senescent cells no longer enter the cell cycle ?
- it can no longer divide as cells generally only divide a number of times before this happens
as you age what happens to the number of senescent cells in your body ?
it increases
due to age related diseases such as cancer and arthritis
give an example of cells which can enter G0 but are stimulated to go back into the cell cycle and start dividing again ?
lymphocytes during an immune response
what is controlled in the cell cycle ?
- to ensure a cell only divides when :
- it’s the right size
- replicated DNA is error free
- chromosomes are in correct positions
why is the cell cycle controlled ?
- to ensure that 2 identical daughter cells are created from the parent cell
what are checkpoints ?
control mechanisms of the cell cycle