Cell Cycle Basics
Mitosis Mechanics
Experimental Design
Cell Cycle Regulation
Data Analysis and Interpretation
100

What is the phase of the cell cycle where the cell grows and prepares for DNA replication?

G1 phase

100

What is the phase of mitosis where chromosomes become visible?

Prophase

100

What type of plant root tips are commonly used to study mitosis in this lab?

Onion root

100

What protein complex is responsible for driving the cell from G2 into mitosis?

Mitosis-promoting factor (MPF)

100

How do you calculate the total number of cells in interphase and mitosis from observed values?

Add the number of cells in each phase across all observed samples.

200

What happens during the S phase of the cell cycle?

DNA replication

200

What structure helps separate the chromosomes during mitosis?

Mitotic spindle

200

What stain is used to make chromosomes visible in the root tips?

Carbol-fuchsin

200

What is the role of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in the cell cycle?

CDKs regulate progression through the cell cycle by phosphorylating target proteins.

200

What statistical test is used to analyze the significance of mitosis rates between control and treated groups?

Chi-square test

300

Name the three stages of interphase.

G1, S, and G2 phases

300

A region made of repetitive sequences in the chromosomal DNA where sister chromatids are attached

Centromere

300

What is a lectin?

A protein that binds to specific carbohydrates

300

Which checkpoint ensures that all DNA has been replicated properly before mitosis?

G2 checkpoint

300

What is the critical chi-square value for a degree of freedom (df) of 1 at a probability level of 0.05?

3.84

400
Something that induces mitosis

mitogen

400
In which phase are there two nuclei in one cell?

Telophase

400

What is a null hypothesis in the context of this lab’s experiment?

The null hypothesis is that lectin treatment has no effect on the number of cells in mitosis.

400

What happens if the M-spindle checkpoint is not satisfied?

The cell cycle is halted, and anaphase does not proceed.

400

What does it mean if the chi-square value exceeds the critical value?

The null hypothesis is rejected, indicating a significant difference between groups.

500

Second messenger that triggers cell replication upon lectin exposure

Ca2+

500

How do plant cells differ from animal cells during cytokinesis?

Plant cells form a cell plate, while animal cells form a cleavage furrow.

500

Design a controlled experiment to test whether light exposure affects the rate of mitosis in onion root tips.

  • Experimental Setup: Grow onion bulbs under different light conditions (e.g., full light, partial light, and darkness).
  • Control Group: Onions grown in normal light conditions.
  • Independent Variable: Light exposure.
  • Dependent Variable: Number of cells in mitosis, observed under a microscope.
  • Steps: Prepare slides, stain root tips, count cells in each phase of the cell cycle.
  • Validity: Keep water, temperature, and soil conditions constant.
  • Reliability: Use multiple bulbs per group and replicate the experiment.
500

Mutations in genes controlling the cell cycle are commonly found in which type of cells?

Cancer cells

500

Control Interphase: 127; Control Mitosis: 46
Treated Interphase: 147; Treated Mitosis: 67
Interpret the results, provide chi square and p-value

chi-square: 0.815
p-value 0.367

not significant