GROW BIG OR GO HOME
What ratio gets worse as a cell gets bigger — making life harder for that poor cell?
a: surface area–to–volume ratio
Which phase is basically the cell’s breakfast — grow, stretch, get ready?
a: G1
“It’s about to go down!” In which mitosis phase do chromosomes prepare and condense — just like warming up before a concert? (Hint: our “Prepare, Meet, Apart, Two” song!)
a: Prophase
What proteins act like timers telling the cell when to divide?
a: cyclins
What word describes uncontrolled cell division?
a: cancer
What do big cells struggle to move quickly — “DoorDash for cells” style?
a: nutrients in and wastes out
Which phase copies DNA so each daughter cell gets a matching set?
a: S phase
In which phase do chromosomes “meet in the middle,” just like in a line dance when partners do-si-do?
a: Metaphase
What do we call the “quality control stops” in the cell cycle?
a: checkpoints
A tumor that stays put and doesn’t spread is called what?
a: benign
What do we call it when the DNA can’t keep up with a giant cell’s demands?
a: information overload
Which phase double-checks DNA before the big show starts?
a: G2
“We are never ever getting back together!” (Taylor Swift) — In what phase do sister chromatids finally pull apart from each other?
a: Anaphase
What’s the name for programmed cell death — the cell’s emergency self-destruct button?
a: apoptosis
A tumor that invades nearby tissues is called what?
a: malignant
What’s the main reason super-sized cells MUST divide before life falls apart?
a: SA:V too small + DNA overload
What’s the name of the whole “workday” where the cell grows, copies DNA, and prepares?
a: interphase
“Two is better than one” (Boys Like Girls & Taylor Swift) — During which phase do two new nuclei start forming, setting up two new cells?
a: Telophase
What happens if checkpoints fail completely?
a: uncontrolled cell division
What do we call it when cancer cells travel to new locations?
a: metastasis
Explain why “just growing bigger” is not a safe strategy for cells.
a: Big cells lose SA:V efficiency and overwhelm DNA
Describe the main job of interphase in one quick idea.
a: prep the cell for safe division
Started from one cell, now we’re here…” — In one short sentence, why do multicellular organisms even bother doing mitosis?
a: For growth and repair
Explain why checkpoints keep organisms healthy.
a: they stop damaged cells from dividing
Describe why cancer is dangerous in one simple idea.
a: it spreads and disrupts healthy tissues