CHAPTER 17 – CELL DIVISION

 3.28 understand how division of a diploid cell by mitosis produces two cells that contain
identical sets of chromosomes
 3.29 understand that mitosis occurs during growth, repair, cloning and asexual reproduction

MITOSIS

PROCESS:
 Each chromosome in the nucleus copies itself
(forms X - shaped chromosomes)
 Chromosomes will line up at the centre of the
cell where cell fibres will pull them apart
 The cell divides into two daughter cells; each
new cell has a copy of each of the
chromosomes and is genetically identical to the
original cell
 Known as the copying division
IMPORTANCE:
 All cells in the body (excluding gametes) are
produced by the mitosis of the zygote
 Important for the replacement of cells e.g, skin
cells, red blood cells
OCCURS IN:
 Growth: mitosis will occur to produce new cells
 Repair: to replace damaged or dead cells
 Cloning: make identical copies
 Asexual reproduction: mitosis to produce
offspring that is genetically identical to the
parent

Mitosis Meiosis
1. Produces 2 daughter cells 1. Produces 4 gametes

2. Daughter cells are diploid (i.e. only 2. Daughter cells are haploid (i.e.
have 23 chromosomes) have 23 pairs of chromosomes)

3. Daughter cells are genetically 3. Gametes are genetically

identical to each other different to each other

4. Daughter cells are genetically 4. Gametes are genetically

identical to parent cell different to parent cell

5. Occurs in one stage 5. Occurs in two stages

6. Happens everywhere in the 6. Happens in reproductive organs

body only
  3.30 understand how division of a cell by meiosis produces four cells, each with half the
number of chromosomes, and that this results in the formation of genetically different
haploid gametes

MEIOSIS
PROCESS:
 Each chromosome makes identical copies of itself
 First division: chromosomes will line up at the
centre of the cell where cell fibres will pull them
apart, each new cell will have one copy of each
chromosome (both mother’s and father’s)
 Second division: chromosomes will line up at the
centre of the cell where cell fibres will pull them
apart
 A total of four haploid daughter cells will be
produced
 Known as the reduction division
IMPORTANCE:
 Production of gametes e.g sperm cells and egg
cells, pollen grains and ovum
 Increases genetic variation of offspring

 3.31 understand how random fertilisation produces genetic variation of offspring

GENETIC VARIATION: the difference in the DNA

sequence of individual offspring from the same parents or
same species

HOW RANDOM FERTILISATION INCREASES GENETIC

VARIATION:
 When two sex cells combine to form a new diploid
cell (zygote) at fertilisation, this results in genetic
variation of the offspring
 This is because the variation of the sex cells (gametes) are increased in variation
themselves as a result of meiosis
 Variation is further increased as the fusing of the egg and sperm is random, causing every
human being to be genetically different from each other (except for twins who are formed
from the same zygote)

 3.32 know that in human cells the diploid number of chromosomes is 46 and the haploid
number is 23

DIPLOID – cells that have pairs of chromosomes are diploid (all body cells except gametes).
Diploid cells are made by mitosis. In humans, diploid cells have 46 chromosomes, organised in 23
pairs. One from each pair comes from each parent.

HAPLOID – cells that have unpaired chromosomes are haploid. The sex cells are haploid (sperm,
egg, pollen…). Haploid cells are made by meiosis. In humans, haploid cells have 23
chromosomes.
  3.33 understand that variation within a species can be genetic, environmental, or a
combination of both

VARIATION: differences between individuals within a species

VARIATION WITHIN SPECIES:

GENETICS ENVIRONMENT

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION:
Variation in a species can be caused by Variation in a species can be caused by
genetics by the inheritance of genes and environmental factors, causing organisms to
alleles from parents adapt or change
EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES:
 Eye Colour  Lifestyle
 Hair Colour  Climate
 Blood Type  Diet
 Inherited Disorders  Culture

BOTH GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENT

Variation can be influenced by both genetic and
environmental factors as although genes decide
what characteristics we inherit, our surrounding
environment will affect how these inherited
characteristics develop.

EXAMPLE:
1. Plants
Plants may have the potential for strong growth, but if they do not receive sufficient
mineral resources from the soil, they may hardly grow at all

2. Child
A child might inherit the tendency to be tall, but a poor diet during childhood will cause
poor growth