Sock Mitosis (Cell Division Part 1)
This year, my teenager is taking AP Biology. Though he took Biology in 9th grade, he’s forgotten a lot of the details. Including the differences between mitosis and meiosis. Yes, I quizzed him. I’m evil that way.
He bore my heavy sigh of disappointment with steely resignation. You see, he could have taken AP Chemistry, but instead deliberately chose Biology knowing his mother is a built-in tutor. I not only taught Anatomy and Physiology, I also taught Introductory Biology to non-biology majors. I have tricks up my sleeve. Or, rather, in the sock drawer.
You heard me.
Mitosis and Meiosis not only sound the same, but they share many features. All those chromosomes zipping around, going this way and that way. My former students were confused, so I began hunting around for a better way to cement the similarities and differences in their minds.
Enter the hands-on demonstration.
The day of the mitosis lecture, I arrived with a bag full of socks and clips (magnetic for the giant whiteboard in the front of the classroom) and began to solicit volunteers. They came reluctantly, eyeing the pile of laundry on the desk before them with raised eyebrows and half smiles. Here’s what they endured.
Am I losing you already?
- 22 pairs are autosomal chromosomes (general chromosomes)
- one pair are the sex chromosomes (XX or XY)
- for a total count of 23 pairs
See how he has an extra #21 chromosome? That’s what happens with Down’s syndrome, something goes wrong during cell division and an extra chromosome hangs around (we’ll cover the how and why in part 2 since it’s an error that occurs during meiosis). And I said ‘he’. Take a close look. Sex chromosomes always come last on a karyotype. X chromosomes are large. Y chromosomes are small. See how I know this individual is male?
So. Below are Jill and Joe’s karyotypes where each sock represents a single chromosome. We call those chromosomes that are of the same size (one from mom and one from dad) homologous chromosomes.
Can you tell Jill’s karyotype from Joe’s? Did you find the small Y chromosome? That’s how you know it’s Joe’s karyotype.
Good. Moving on.
In mitosis, the DNA of a cell duplicates, then separates to form two identical cells. This is a basic function that allows us to replicate existing cells so that we can grow and/or replace cells that have worn out. It’s a process necessary for day-to-day existence.
Mitosis has a number of stages it progresses through.
Interphase > Prophase > Prometaphase > Metaphase > Anaphase > Telophase > Daughter Cells
I’ve listed the bare bone characteristics of each here (trust me, there’s plenty more), but for the purposes of this demonstration, we’re going to follow the DNA, aka socks.
- Chromosomes duplicate (not yet condensed)
- DNA condenses into chromosomes [Imagine someone using yarn (chromatin) to knit (condense the chromatin) into socks] to appear as identical sister chromatids joined together at the centromere
- Mitotic spindle forms
Let’s pause for a moment here.
Sister chromatids are identical.
Identical. I’m repeating that because so, so many students forget this. A chromosome duplicates and is attached to its identical copy at the centromere.
- Nuclear envelope breaks down
- Microtubules ‘capture’ chromosomes at the kinetochore (located on the centromere)
- Chromosomes line up on the metaphase plate
- Kinetochore of each sister chromatid attaches to a microtubule from opposite poles
- Sister chromatids (chromosomes) separate from each other and are pulled to opposite poles
- Mitotic spindle breaks down
- Cell cytoplasm divides
- Chromosomes de-condense
- Two cells (daughter cells) result, each is identical to the original cell
And that, dear readers, is Mitosis at its most basic.
Mitosis is nice and simple, right? Things were going just peachy in your biology class and then… the teacher started talking about Meiosis and ruined everything.
Except Meiosis is sexy. 😉 It’s how we make egg and sperm and propagate our socks.
Er. Species. (Though seriously, socks are always up to something in the wash, disappearing without warning. So you know, who knows what they’re up to…)
Next time, we’ll cover MEIOSIS!
Though USA TODAY bestselling author Anne Renwick holds a Ph.D. in biology and greatly enjoyed tormenting the overburdened undergraduates who were her students, fiction has always been her first love. Today, she writes steampunk romance, placing a new kind of biotech in the hands of mad scientists, proper young ladies and determined villains.
Anne brings an unusual perspective to steampunk. A number of years spent locked inside the bowels of a biological research facility left her permanently altered. In her steampunk world, the Victorian fascination with all things anatomical led to a number of alarming biotechnological advances. Ones that the enemies of Britain would dearly love to possess.
To chat with Anne, stop by on Facebook or join the Department of Cryptobiology Facebook group. You can also join her newsletter list to have cover reveals, sneak peaks, sales and giveaways delivered straight to your inbox.