Question

Name each numbered stage in the plant cell cycle diagram:

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Metaphase

2. Prophase

3. Telophase

4. Interphase

5. Interphase

6. Interphase

7. Anaphase

8. Interphase

9. Telophase

10. Metaphase

11. Interphase

12. Interphase

13. Interphase

14. Interphase

15. Prophase

16. Interphase

17. Metaphase

18. Anaphase

19. Interphase

20. Interphase

21. Prophase

22. Interphase

Explanation:

The cell cycle is divided into two main divisions. The Interphase ad the M phase or the Mitotic phase.

Throughout Interphase, the cell is not dividing yet, but it is preparing to divide. It synthesizes the nutrients it will need, and grows in preparation to become two cells. This is actually the phase the cell spends the longest time.

Mitotic phase is when the cell starts to divide. It is separated into:

Prophase:

In this phase the chromosomes are condensed and mitotic spindles start to form. These spindles are made up of microtubules that will help later on to split the chromosomes. The nuclear membrane disappears so that the chromosomes will be free to move.

Metaphase

This phase is marked by the alignment of the chromosomes in the middle of the cell. They line up and you will find the asters at the opposite ends of the cell, where the microtubules stem from, attaching themselves to the center of the chromosomes, which we call the kinetochore.

Anaphase

In this phase you will see that the chromosomes are separated by the spindle fibers and are pulled at opposite ends of the cell. The cell then becomes longer by the other spindle fibers that are not attached to a chromosome.

Telophase

This phase is the end phase. The two sets of chromosomes are then enclosed by new nuclear membranes forming two nuclei and other cellular structures just as the cells are about to separate completely. As the two new cells move further apart, in plant cells a cell plate forms, dividing the two cells. The movement of the two cells splitting apart is called cytokinesis and it happens just as mitosis is about to end.

Attached is a picture of the cell cycle of a plant cell.