Cell Cycle Narrative Essay Bobby Fishburn Spivery

Bobby Fishburn­Spivery
7­16
Ms. Johnson
March 29, 2015 The Cell Cycle
The cell cycle is a process that begins when the cell is formed and ends when the cell divides and forms two new cells. Cells are little particles that contain deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA), which is a molecule that is present in all living things. DNA contains the information that determines the traits an organism has and needs to live. Every week, multiple cells in your body are dying and this is why the cell cycle is important. There are three stages and four phases of the cell cycle that help duplicate more cells. Interphase is the first stage of the cell cycle and the DNA is copied. Mitosis is the second stage and it has four phases. Lastly, cytokinesis is the last stage and two daughter cells are created. This process helps replace cells that have died. The first stage of the cell cycle is interphase and this explains what happens “inside” the cell. In this stage, the cell grows and copies everything inside the cell, including organelles and chromosomes, where DNA is located. When the chromosomes are copied, they are known as chromatids. This is the beginning of the cell cycle. Copying the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) allows the cell to move onto the next stage, mitosis.

The next stage of the cell cycle is mitosis and is divided into four phases which causes the chromatids (duplicated chromosomes) to separate. The first phase is prophase and "Pro­" means forward. This phase starts mitosis, and the nuclear membrane dissolves­ while chromosomes turn into rod­like structures. The second phase of the cell cycle is metaphase. “Meta­” means between, and the homologous chromosomes line up in the equator of the cell. Equator means the middle of the cell, and “Homo­” means same, which lets you know that homologous chromosomes are chromatids together. Next is anaphase, and “Ana­” means back. During this phase, the chromatids separate and move to opposite sides of the cell. The same amount of chromosomes are pulled to both sides of the cell. The final phase is telophase, and “Telo­” means end­ two nuclear membranes appear around both sets of chromosomes and the chromosomes start to unwind. Two cells start to form, and the amount of chromosomes for both cells are equal. After mitosis is complete comes the final stage, cytokinesis. When the word is broken down, “Cyto­” means cell and “­kine­” means move. The cells pinch off each other, which forms two new cells called daughter cells. However, in plant cells, a cell plate will form between the two new cells. Each cell is an exact copy of the original cell, ending the cell cycle. In conclusion, the cell cycle is a very important process when it comes to cells. Without the cell cycle, your cells wouldn’t be able to multiply, and you probably wouldn’t be alive right now. Although prokaryotic cells are less complex than eukaryotic cells, they both go through processes that help make new cells. Cells are the key to life and hold very important information­

DNA that is. That is why cells go through the cell cycle, to replace dead cells and they posses the key of life, DNA.