Mitosis Autotutorial

Q: What do cloned sheep and lung cancer have in common?

A: They develop through the process of mitosis.

The Problem: How do cells faithfully distribute genteic material to daughter cells?

The Issue: Each time a cell divides the daughter cells must get the right chromosomes. For example, cells with missing or extra chromosomes can become cancerous.

The cost of errors in cell division is high, and the processes of mitosis have evolved in eukaryotic cells to correctly distribute replicated chromosomes to daughter cells.

Basics of chromosome movement

The steps of mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, & cytokinesis).

The cell cycle

Where mitosis fits in to the life of a cell. Chromosome movement of a different type: meiosis.

Take the cell cycle self-test

A java-based applet developed by Brian Irwin and Anoopa Sharma.