The Cell Cycle Worksheet answers the question of whether or not you can ever reach the boundary of a cell, the point at which it is no longer a living organism and starts to divide. The answer is yes, you can, but you need to understand the complex process that brings about the creation of new living cells.
The basic cell cycle includes four key stages: the differentiation stage, the proliferation stage, the division stage and the reproduction stage. To reach each of these stages in the correct order, you must have a knowledge of the types of cells and their functions.
Cell differentiation is the stage in which a cell becomes specialized for one function. In mammals, this stage usually occurs during the middle childhood years. It is also the point at which the features of all of the cells of the body begin to change.
Hormones are responsible for differentiation. They are chemicals that are secreted by a cell that causes it to differentiate. One example of a hormone is FGF. This is a growth factor that causes the lining of the developing egg to change into a structure known as a blastocyst.
Another hormone is Fucose. This is a sugar that allows the cell to differentiate, although it can also cause the entire cell to change into a mature form. These two types of hormones are necessary to reach each of the steps in the Cell Cycle Worksheet.
The proliferation stage is where the Cell Cycle Worksheet answers the question of whether or not the cell can divide or if it has reached the stage of differentiation. The main function of this stage is to ensure that the organelle, the bundle of chromosomes, divides only once. If there are more than one organelle in the cell, then it is not possible to achieve this single division. Therefore, the fertilized egg will split in two, leaving one cell with one chromosome and the other cell with two.
After the proliferation stage, the division stage is where the Cell Cycle Worksheet answers the question of whether or not the cell can divide. The division stage is where the FGF is still active and dividing. Once the FGF is finished dividing, the rest of the division stage is over.
The Reproduction Stage answers the question of whether or not the cell can divide or if it has reached the stage of differentiation. During this stage, all of the organelles are released from the nucleus of the cell. A cycle of division begins again and one cell is released with two of its chromosomes.
