PSYCHOLOGY 104 CELL
DIVISION BIOLOGY GIZMO ALBERTA
UNIVERSITY.
, Biology Gizmo - Cell Division
Knowledge Questions:
1. Cells reproduce by splitting in half, a process called cell division. What do cells need to
do between divisions to make sure that they don’t just get smaller and smaller?
They need to grow between divisions to ensure that they don’t get smaller.
2. The genetic information of a cell is carried in its DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid).
What do cells need to do between divisions to make sure that a full set of DNA gets
passed on to each daughter cell?
The DNA must be copied so there is a full set of DNA to pass on to each daughter cell.
Gizmo Warm-up:
1. Look at the cells. Do they all look the same?
Yes they all look the same
2. Cells that are in the process of dividing are said to be in
mitosis or cytokinesis. Cells that are not dividing are in
interphases.
a. Of the 100 cells shown, how many are in the process of dividing?
20
b. How many cells are in the interphase stage of their life cycle?
80
c. Based on these two observations, would you say that a cell spends most of its life cycle
in interphase or in mitosis/cytokinesis?
I would say that a cell spends most of its life cycle in interphase.
Activity A: Phases of the cell cycle
Question: What are the stages of the cell cycle?
1. Observe: Click Play and hold the cursor over the cell. Observe the cell as it divides several
times. (This happens quickly!) What do you notice happening during this process?
You can see the chromosomes line up then separate and then you see two nucleuses
then the cell splits.
2. Summarize: On the DESCRIPTION pane, read about each phase in the cell cycle. In the
spaces below, sketch the cell in each phase and summarize what occurs in your own words.
DIVISION BIOLOGY GIZMO ALBERTA
UNIVERSITY.
, Biology Gizmo - Cell Division
Knowledge Questions:
1. Cells reproduce by splitting in half, a process called cell division. What do cells need to
do between divisions to make sure that they don’t just get smaller and smaller?
They need to grow between divisions to ensure that they don’t get smaller.
2. The genetic information of a cell is carried in its DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid).
What do cells need to do between divisions to make sure that a full set of DNA gets
passed on to each daughter cell?
The DNA must be copied so there is a full set of DNA to pass on to each daughter cell.
Gizmo Warm-up:
1. Look at the cells. Do they all look the same?
Yes they all look the same
2. Cells that are in the process of dividing are said to be in
mitosis or cytokinesis. Cells that are not dividing are in
interphases.
a. Of the 100 cells shown, how many are in the process of dividing?
20
b. How many cells are in the interphase stage of their life cycle?
80
c. Based on these two observations, would you say that a cell spends most of its life cycle
in interphase or in mitosis/cytokinesis?
I would say that a cell spends most of its life cycle in interphase.
Activity A: Phases of the cell cycle
Question: What are the stages of the cell cycle?
1. Observe: Click Play and hold the cursor over the cell. Observe the cell as it divides several
times. (This happens quickly!) What do you notice happening during this process?
You can see the chromosomes line up then separate and then you see two nucleuses
then the cell splits.
2. Summarize: On the DESCRIPTION pane, read about each phase in the cell cycle. In the
spaces below, sketch the cell in each phase and summarize what occurs in your own words.
