The Cell Cycle Worksheet will be very helpful to anyone who is studying the science of gene expression. If you are a scientist in the biotechnology industry or a researcher that works with patients, then you should study and understand the process of cell division. Without knowledge of the working of the cell cycle, it will be impossible to accurately predict the effects that you will have on a cell from one generation to the next.
During cellular division, cells will divide only at the point where two chromosomes that are located in the middle of the cell body are separated. You will probably have learned from your biology class that each cell carries two sets of chromosomes which make up the complete set of chromosomes that make up the human genome. At each division, the nucleus of the cell splits apart and creates two daughter cells.
Before the first division takes place, the half of the nucleus that has not yet split off is called the centromere. This is the base of the chromosome that is connected to the first pair of chromosomes on each end. This is also the first section of the cell that separates during cellular division.
The second half of the chromosome is known as the centrale. After the first cell division has taken place, the final set of chromosomes, the telomeres, are created. Telomeres are a protective barrier for the chromosomes at the end of the cell.
Because each chromosome in a pair has its own set of telomeres, each chromosome will not share its telomeres with any other chromosome. Thus, the segments of the chromosomes that do not have telomeres remain separate and will become the cells’ daughter cells.
As a result of this separation, the cells that remain after the first division will be smaller than the parent cells because the chromosomes are not able to divide as easily. This makes it more difficult for the cells to divide correctly and allow them to make their way through a normal lifespan.
When the Cell Cycle Worksheet is printed out, it should include a separate column for each chromosome pair. The column to the left of the cells that do not have telomeres should show the total number of telomeres that are found on the chromosome pair. These are the chromosomes that remain separate after the first division of the cell.
The Cell Cycle Worksheet can also include a column to show the number of times that the first pair of chromosomes has split. This will be used to calculate the number of cell divisions that must take place before the chromosome pairs are all united and will be the parent cells that divide after each division. Because the cell cycle is such an important part of cell biology, it is good to know how many times it occurs so that you can find out what the maximum number of divisions is that you can perform and keep the parent cells from dividing too much.
