Chapter 8: Cell Growth and Division

 

Section 8-1:  Cell Growth

Ø      In most instances, a living thing grows because it produces more and more cells.

o       The cells in a human being are very similar in size to those in an ant.

§         Does growth have to occur in this way?

·        Can an organism get larger just by increasing the size of its cells?

 

The Limits of Cell Growth

Ø      Recall Chapter 5:  Cell membranes allow food, waste, and other chemicals into and out of the cell.

o       Cell function depends on the cell membrane.

See Figure 8-2 Page 160

o       Volume increases quicker than surface area.

·        After a certain point, the volume of the cell becomes too large for the surface area to function.

o       Compare this volume/surface area problem to an office building.

§         A cell can undergo an “information crisis” due to size.

o       DNA is copied to mRNA to accomplish tasks.

§         DNA is copied in finite and rated amounts.

·        As a cell increases in size, the number of tasks increases.

§         Its like trying to run an accounting firm with one calculator.

Rates of Cell Growth

Ø      The cell solves the information crisis by dividing.

o       CELL DIVISION- Is a process by which one cell divides into two daughter cells.

Ø      Cells can grow and divide at astonishing rates.

o       Referred to as J_CURVE growth or exponential growth.

Ø      E. coli can double in volume and divide every ½ hour.

o       After 1 day one E. coli bacterium can divide into 14-Kg worth

o       After 3 days one E. coli cN divide into enough bacteria to outweigh to Earth.

Ø      These optimum conditions can only be reached in short spans because they are always checked by limits in food, space, and increasing waste.

Controls on Cell Growth

Ø     One of the most amazing aspects of cell life in multicellular organisms is how closely cell growth and development are controlled.

o      Some cells never divide or they divide rarely.

§        Cardiac muscle and nervous tissue

o      Some cells divide rapidly and constantly.

§        Skin cells and digestive tract.

Ø      Scientists observe controlled cell growth in culture dishes.

o       Culture dishes with cells placed in it will have cells grow until the cells take up all space.

§         Cells will stop growing when they come into contact with each other.

Ø      Controls on cell growth can be turned on and off.

o       During injury cells @ the site of the problem are stimulated to grow and divide.

§         Starts the healing process.

o       When healing process is near completion, the process slows down.

 

 Uncontrolled Cell Growth

Ø      The consequences of uncontrolled cell growth is severe.

o       Cancer is a disorder in which cells have lost their ability to control their growth.

§         Cancer cells placed in a culture dish will grow and grown until all space and food is depleted.

·        Cells then die due to lack of necessities.

 

Section 8-2:  Cell Division:  Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Ø      Division of eukaryotic cells occurs in two stagres.

o       Mitosis and cytokinesis

Ø      MITOSIS is the process by which the nucleus of the cell is divided into two nuclei.

o       Each has the same # and type of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Ø      CYTOKINESIS is the process by which the cytoplasm divides, thus forming two distinct cells.

Ø      These processes are complex due to the cells complexity.

o       DNA is a complex molecule therefore the copying process will be complex.

§         Copying of DNA must be perfect of daughters cells will die or be cancerous.

 

 Chromosomes

Ø      Recall chapter 5:  CHROMOSOMES are structures that contain the genetic information.

o       Chromosome means “colored body”

§         Chromosomes contain genetic information in the form of DNA.

§         Prokaryotic cells have long circular chromosomes.

§         Eukaryotic cells have chromosomes of distinct lengths of DNA.

·        Humans have 46 chromosomes.

Composition of Chromatin

Ø      Chromosomes are made up of a material called CHROMATIN.

o       Between cell divisions, chromatin is dispersed in condensed regions throughout the cell.

o       During cell division, the chromatin condenses and the chromosomes become visible.

Ø      Chromatin is composed of DNA and protein.

o       The protein is used to coil the DNA so that it fits inside the nucleus.

§         The DNA unwound is 10,000X longer than the chromosome!

o       Protein is HISTONE.

§         Discovered by Don and ADA Olins and Christopher Woodcock.

o       Together the DNA and HISTONES form bead-like structures called NUCLEOSOMES.

§         Nucleosomes coil around each other to form chromosomes.

CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE

o      After DNA replication, the chromosome becomes visible.

§        This is the beginning of MITOSIS.

o      The chromosome contains two CHROMATIDS, or identical parts.

§        Sister chromatids.

o      Joined together at a sight called CENTROMERE.

§        Usually near the center of the chromatids.

o      Each human cell contains contains 46 chromosomes each of which consists two chromatids.

 

CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE

o      After DNA replication, the chromosome becomes visible.

§        This is the beginning of MITOSIS.

o      The chromosome contains two CHROMATIDS, or identical parts.

§        Sister chromatids.

o      Joined together at a sight called CENTROMERE.

§        Usually near the center of the chromatids.

Each human cell contains contains 46 chromosomes each of which consists two chromatids.