Albert Teen
powered by
Albert logo

YOU ARE LEARNING:

pointer
The Cell Cycle
lessonMenuButton

The Cell Cycle

lesson introduction

The Cell Cycle

Cells go through a series of events that repeat itself for it to grow and divide.

1

During this lesson, this cell cycle diagram will get filled out bit by bit

For now, you can see that the cell cycle consists of 3 main phases.

block image
2

What is the ultimate outcome of the cell cycle?

A) A single parent cell B) Two daughter cells

hint button
block image
3

True or false? The daughter cells are identical to each other.

hint button
block image
4

True or false? The two daughter cells are identical to the original parent cell.

hint button
block image
5

So the outcome of the cell cycle is that a parent cell becomes two identical daughter cells

This means that you start with 1 cell and end up with 2 cells on total. The parent cell literally splits itself and becomes the daughter cells!

block image

Why do you think a cell might multiply into identical daughter cells? Pick 2 options.

hint button

You can select multiple answers

1

What do we call the first phase of the cell cycle?

hint button
block image
1

This image has zoomed in on the interphase

There are 4 stages to the interphase.

block image
2

What do you think the cell might do at the "resting" stage?

A) Split itself B) Replicate its organelles C) Build up food stores

hint button
block image
3

In the next stage, the cell __________.

A) shrinks B) grows bigger C) explodes

hint button
block image
4

In the third stage in the interphase, the cell replicates something inside the nucleus. What is it?

A) Chromosomes B) Mitochondria C) Ribosomes

hint button
block image
5

In the fourth and final stage of the interphase, the cell replicates...

A) itself. B) organelles in the cytoplasm. C) food stores.

hint button
block image
6

So the interphase consists of 4 stages

During resting, the cell builds up food stores. Then the cells grows bigger. Then the cell replicates its chromosomes in the nucleus. Finally, the cell replicates organelles, like mitochondria and ribosomes.

block image
1

The second phase of the cell cycle is called "mitosis"

In this phase the chromosomes separate to prepare for the cell to split. Much more detail on mitosis in later lessons.

block image
1

What is the last phase of the cell cycle called?

hint button
block image
2

What happens during cytokinesis?

A) The parent cell finally splits. B) The daughter cells fuse into a parent cell. C) The cell dies.

hint button
block image
1

Summary! During the cell cycle, cells split themselves into two

The original cell is the parent cell and the two new cells are daughter cells.

block image
2

Daughter cells are identical to each other and to the original parent cell

The body needs new identical cells for growth and repair.

It might also need them for asexual reproduction, which is when organisms reproduce by basically producing clones of themselves.

block image
3

There are 3 phases in the cell cycle

Interphase Mitosis Cytokinesis

block image
4

The interphase has 4 stages

First the cell is resting and building up food stores. Second, the cell grows bigger. Third, the cell replicates its chromosomes. Fourth, the cell replicates organelles, like mitochondria and ribosomes.

block image
5

Mitosis

During mitosis chromosomes separate to prepare for the cell to split.

block image
6

Cytokinesis

During cytokinesis, the parent cell finally splits.

block image
7

Why do we call it a "cycle"?

Because each of these daughter cells may now become a parent cell that can enter the same cycle and itself split into two daughter cells.

block image