Review of the Cell Cycle - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep

The cell cycle consists of distinct phases: interphase, prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. To memorize these steps, use the mnemonic "iParty particularly more at the club." Each phase has specific events, such as chromatin condensing in prophase and sister chromatids separating in anaphase. Mitosis concludes with cytokinesis, which divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two separate cells. Understanding these phases is crucial for grasping cellular division and its implications in growth and repair.

Memorizing the Steps of the Cell Cycle

In this video, we're going to do a review of the cell cycle by specifically talking about how you guys can memorize the steps of the cell cycle. And so here at Clutch Prep, we've come up with a really creative and interesting way to help you guys memorize the steps of the cell cycle. And so when you're trying to memorize the steps of the cell cycle, really, all you need to do is think about Club Procreate here. And so notice that we're showing you this disco ball here and these people partying in Club Procreate. And so I don't know about you guys, but I party particularly more at the club.

And so if you can remember I party particularly more at the club, then you'll be able to remember the steps of the cell cycle in the correct order. And so, of course, the "I" here is going to represent the "I" in interphase. Then the "p" in party represents the "p" in prophase. The "p" in particularly represents the "p" in prometaphase. And, of course, you know that prophase is going to come before everything, and prometaphase comes just before metaphase.

And then, of course, the "m" in more represents the "m" in metaphase. The "a" in at represents the "a" in anaphase, the "t" in the represents the "t" in telophase, and the "c" in the club represents the "c" in cytokinesis. And so notice here that we're also showing you some of the images of the events that occur in each of these phases. And so, you can see how in prophase here, the loosely coiled chromatin is going to condense into tightly coiled chromosomes. The centrosome is going to begin to move to opposite poles and start to form the mitotic spindle.

Notice in prometaphase, the nucleus and nucleolus are going to disappear and break down. The centrosomes are going to form mitotic spindles that ultimately attach to the chromosomes. And in metaphase, the chromosomes are going to align in the middle of the cell. And in anaphase, the sister chromatids are going to get pulled apart from one another. And in telophase, the tail end here, they're basically going to be the opposite events of prophase and prometaphase where the nucleus and nucleolus reform, the mitotic spindle breaks down and, the chromosomes are going to begin to unwind into the loosely coiled chromatin.

And then, of course, mitosis only ends with a single cell. So, notice there's just a single cell here that has 2 nuclei. And so in order for the complete cell division to occur, mitosis needs to be followed up by cytokinesis, and cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm, which is going to fully separate the two cells. And so, again, this here is just a review of the cell cycle and by remembering "I party particularly more at the club," hopefully, that can help you remember the steps of the cell cycle in the correct order. So, this here concludes this video and I'll see you all in our next one.

Movement of the chromosomes during anaphase would be most affected by a drug that:

• A. Prevents the formation of a cleavage furrow.
• B. Prevents the formation of the nuclear envelope.
• C. Prevents elongation of microtubules.
• D. Prevents shortening of microtubules.

Cytokinesis usually follows mitosis. If a cell completed mitosis but not cytokinesis, the result would be:

• A. A cell with a single large nucleus.
• B. A cell with high concentrations of actin and myosin.
• C. A cell with two abnormally small nuclei.
• D. A cell with two completely identical nuclei.
• E. A cell with two non-identical nuclei with half the amount of DNA.

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What are the main phases of the cell cycle?

The main phases of the cell cycle are interphase, prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. Interphase is the period of cell growth and DNA replication. Prophase involves the condensation of chromatin into chromosomes and the formation of the mitotic spindle. Prometaphase sees the breakdown of the nuclear envelope and the attachment of spindle fibers to chromosomes. During metaphase, chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plate. Anaphase is characterized by the separation of sister chromatids. Telophase involves the reformation of the nuclear envelope around the separated chromatids. Finally, cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two distinct daughter cells.

How can I memorize the steps of the cell cycle?

A helpful mnemonic to memorize the steps of the cell cycle is 'iParty particularly more at the club.' This stands for Interphase, Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, and Cytokinesis. Each letter in the mnemonic corresponds to the first letter of each phase. For example, 'I' stands for Interphase, 'P' for Prophase, 'P' for Prometaphase, 'M' for Metaphase, 'A' for Anaphase, 'T' for Telophase, and 'C' for Cytokinesis. This mnemonic can help you recall the correct order of the phases during your studies.

What happens during prophase in the cell cycle?

During prophase, several key events occur: the chromatin condenses into tightly coiled chromosomes, making them visible under a microscope. The nucleolus disappears, and the nuclear envelope begins to break down. The centrosomes, which have duplicated during interphase, start to move to opposite poles of the cell, and the mitotic spindle begins to form. These spindles are crucial for the later stages of mitosis, as they will attach to the chromosomes and help separate them into the daughter cells.

What is the significance of cytokinesis in the cell cycle?

Cytokinesis is the final step in the cell cycle, following mitosis. It involves the division of the cytoplasm, resulting in two separate daughter cells. This process ensures that each daughter cell receives an equal and adequate amount of cytoplasmic material and organelles. In animal cells, cytokinesis is achieved through the formation of a cleavage furrow that pinches the cell into two. In plant cells, a cell plate forms along the center of the cell, eventually developing into a separating wall. Cytokinesis is crucial for the proper distribution of cellular components and the successful completion of cell division.

What are the key events in metaphase during the cell cycle?

During metaphase, the chromosomes align at the metaphase plate, an imaginary plane equidistant from the two spindle poles. This alignment ensures that each daughter cell will receive one copy of each chromosome. The spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes via kinetochores, which are protein structures on the chromosomes. This precise alignment and attachment are critical for the accurate segregation of chromosomes during the subsequent phase, anaphase. Any errors in this process can lead to genetic abnormalities in the daughter cells.