Mitosis: The Adventurous Life of a Cell

Cells, they are the basic unit of life, some organisms are made up of only one cell, like bacteria, that's crazy, right? But do you want to hear whats even crazier? Some organisms are made of billions, and trillions of cells!

People, like you and I are made up of cells too. But we are made of different cells, called nerve cells, and they help to transport messages around the body.

Living organisms are always making new cells, they make new cells, so that they can grow, and so they can replace the old cells. This process is called CELL DIVISION. About two trillion cell divisions happen in our bodies everyday! There are three main types of cell division, binary fission, mitosis, and meiosis!

Mitosis

So lets talk some more about mitosis! Mitosis is used when a cell needs to be replicated into exact copies of itself. Everything in the cell must be duplicated, or copied, the two cells have the same DNA, functions, and genetic code. The original cell is called the mother cell, and the duplicates are called the daughter cell. So before mitosis can being, the chromosomes must be duplicated!

The Cycle stage for Mitosis:

Cells go though different phases, called the cell cycle. The 'normal' state of cell is called the 'interphase'. The genetic material is duplicated during the 'interphase' stage of a cell. When the cell gets the signal that is it to duplicate, it will enter the first state of mitosis, called 'prophase'

These are the four phases of Mitosis in order:

1.Prophase: During this phase the chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the nuclear membrane and the nucleus break down

2. Metaphase: during this phase the chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell

3. Anaphase: during this phase the chromosomes separate and move to the opposite sides of the cell

4. Telophase: during this phase the cells form two necular membranes around each set of chromosomes and then they uncoil. the cell walls are then pinched off and split down the middle. then, as we leaned before, the daughter cells are formed

So we got to learn about Mitosis today! how cool is that? Its amazing how God designed each and every one of us. He created the heavens and the earth, and you and I. He is all powerful and he knows everything, and that's what's really cool!

Mrs. G, this was a really fun project, we should do more of these!