Series: Biology: An Intro to the Cell Cycle & Mitosis

None of the lesson in this series have been reviewed.

Below are the descriptions for each of the lessons included in the series:

• Biology: The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle

  Professor Wolfe gives an overview of the full cycle of eukaryotic cells. There are consistencies in the cell cycles of almost all eukaryotic cells. Why do cells divide? All the cells divide to maintain their volume to surface are ratio. When cells divide, the genetic information in the offspring cells must be identical to the genetic information in the parent cell, so this genetic information must first be organized and doubled. This process is called 'packing' and forms chromasomes, which are 2 molecules of identical DNA. Ninety percent of a cell's life cycle is spent in the period called "interphase," which is where the cell grows (known as the G1 or Gap 1 phase), DNA replicates (known as the S phase for DNA synthesis), and the cell prepares to divide (known as the G2 or Gap 2 phase). A eukaryotic cell will only spend ten percent of its life cycle dividing, or "replicating."

  Taught by Professor George Wolfe, this lesson was selected from a broader, comprehensive course, Biology. This course and others are available from Thinkwell, Inc. The full course can be found at http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/biology. The full course covers evolution, ecology, inorganic and organic chemistry, cell biology, respiration, molecular genetics, photosynthesis, biotechnology, cell reproduction, Mendelian genetics and mutation, population genetics and mutation, animal systems and homeostasis, evolution of life on earth, and plant systems and homeostasis.

  George Wolfe brings 30+ years of teaching and curriculum writing experience to Thinkwell Biology. His teaching career started in Zaire, Africa where he taught Biology, Chemistry, Political Economics, and Physical Education in the Peace Corps. Since then, he's taught in the Western NY region, spending the last 20 years in the Rochester City School District where he is the Director of the Loudoun Academy of Science.

  Besides his teaching career, Mr. Wolfe has also been an Emmy-winning television host, fielding live questions for the PBS/WXXI production of Homework Hotline as well as writing and performing in "Football Physics" segments for the Buffalo Bills and the Discover Channel.

  His contributions to education have been extensive, serving on multiple advisory boards including the Cornell Institute of Physics Teachers, the Cornell Institute of Biology Teachers and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics SportSmarts curriculum project. He has authored several publications including "The Nasonia Project", a lab series built around the genetics and behaviors of a parasitic wasp.

  He has received numerous awards throughout his teaching career including the NSTA Presidential Excellence Award, The National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for New York State, The Shell Award for Outstanding Science Educator, and was recently inducted in the National Teaching Hall of Fame.

• Biology: Mitosis: An Overview

  Mitosis seems to be a sticking point for many biology students. In this lesson, Professor Wolfe simplifies the concept of mitosis by breaking it down into the functions and forgoing the vocabulary (for the time being). He begins with a review of the eukaryotic cell cycle. DNA is only packed into chromosomes when a cell is going to do mitosis. A chromosome is two identical strands of DNA connected by a centromere. The centromere includes a section called the kinetochore. During mitosis, the nucleus of the cell splits and then the chromosomes form. The mictrotubiles connect to the kinetochrome and allow for chromosomal movement and division.

  This lesson is perfect for review for a CLEP test, mid-term, final, summer school, or personal growth!

  Taught by Professor George Wolfe, this lesson was selected from a broader, comprehensive course, Biology. This course and others are available from Thinkwell, Inc. The full course can be found at http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/biology. The full course covers evolution, ecology, inorganic and organic chemistry, cell biology, respiration, molecular genetics, photosynthesis, biotechnology, cell reproduction, Mendelian genetics and mutation, population genetics and mutation, animal systems and homeostasis, evolution of life on earth, and plant systems and homeostasis.

  George Wolfe brings 30+ years of teaching and curriculum writing experience to Thinkwell Biology. His teaching career started in Zaire, Africa where he taught Biology, Chemistry, Political Economics, and Physical Education in the Peace Corps. Since then, he's taught in the Western NY region, spending the last 20 years in the Rochester City School District where he is the Director of the Loudoun Academy of Science.

  Besides his teaching career, Mr. Wolfe has also been an Emmy-winning television host, fielding live questions for the PBS/WXXI production of Homework Hotline as well as writing and performing in "Football Physics" segments for the Buffalo Bills and the Discover Channel.

  His contributions to education have been extensive, serving on multiple advisory boards including the Cornell Institute of Physics Teachers, the Cornell Institute of Biology Teachers and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics SportSmarts curriculum project. He has authored several publications including "The Nasonia Project", a lab series built around the genetics and behaviors of a parasitic wasp.

  He has received numerous awards throughout his teaching career including the NSTA Presidential Excellence Award, The National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for New York State, The Shell Award for Outstanding Science Educator, and was recently inducted in the National Teaching Hall of Fame.

• Biology: Mitosis: The Phases

  In this second Mitosis lesson, Professor Wolfe adds in the terms for the phases of Mitosis. He begins with a quick review of chromatins, chromosomes, and chromatids, and then introduces the five phases of mitosis, which are prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Professor Wolfe explains each phase in depth, showing images of example cells and pictures of actual cells to help you understand. Throughout the process, centrosomes start to seperate and the cell forms sister chromatids, the nuclear envelope breaks down, chromosomes line up along the center of the cell, chromosomes seperate, a cleavage furrow forms, and the cell begins to divide.

  This lesson is perfect for review for a CLEP test, mid-term, final, summer school, or personal growth!

  Taught by Professor George Wolfe, this lesson was selected from a broader, comprehensive course, Biology. This course and others are available from Thinkwell, Inc. The full course can be found at http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/biology. The full course covers evolution, ecology, inorganic and organic chemistry, cell biology, respiration, molecular genetics, photosynthesis, biotechnology, cell reproduction, Mendelian genetics and mutation, population genetics and mutation, animal systems and homeostasis, evolution of life on earth, and plant systems and homeostasis.

  George Wolfe brings 30+ years of teaching and curriculum writing experience to Thinkwell Biology. His teaching career started in Zaire, Africa where he taught Biology, Chemistry, Political Economics, and Physical Education in the Peace Corps. Since then, he's taught in the Western NY region, spending the last 20 years in the Rochester City School District where he is the Director of the Loudoun Academy of Science.

  Besides his teaching career, Mr. Wolfe has also been an Emmy-winning television host, fielding live questions for the PBS/WXXI production of Homework Hotline as well as writing and performing in "Football Physics" segments for the Buffalo Bills and the Discover Channel.

  His contributions to education have been extensive, serving on multiple advisory boards including the Cornell Institute of Physics Teachers, the Cornell Institute of Biology Teachers and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics SportSmarts curriculum project. He has authored several publications including "The Nasonia Project", a lab series built around the genetics and behaviors of a parasitic wasp.

  He has received numerous awards throughout his teaching career including the NSTA Presidential Excellence Award, The National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for New York State, The Shell Award for Outstanding Science Educator, and was recently inducted in the National Teaching Hall of Fame.

• Biology: Cytokinesis

  Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm that takes place after mitosis, producing two daughter cells. Professor Wolfe walks you through this process in both animal and plant cells. In an animal cell, the well membrane elongates due to the contraction of microfilaments actin and myosin. This contraction creates a cleavage furrow that will eventually produce two separate cells known as daughter cells. In plant cells, the same process isn't possible, because of the rigid, non-cleavable cell wall. The Golgi apparatus in plant cells actually migrate to the middle of the cell, where they synthesize a new cell membrane. Then, proteins from the golgi vesicles are able to synthesize a new cell wall, creating two distinct cells.

  Taught by Professor George Wolfe, this lesson was selected from a broader, comprehensive course, Biology. This course and others are available from Thinkwell, Inc. The full course can be found at http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/biology. The full course covers evolution, ecology, inorganic and organic chemistry, cell biology, respiration, molecular genetics, photosynthesis, biotechnology, cell reproduction, Mendelian genetics and mutation, population genetics and mutation, animal systems and homeostasis, evolution of life on earth, and plant systems and homeostasis.

  George Wolfe brings 30+ years of teaching and curriculum writing experience to Thinkwell Biology. His teaching career started in Zaire, Africa where he taught Biology, Chemistry, Political Economics, and Physical Education in the Peace Corps. Since then, he's taught in the Western NY region, spending the last 20 years in the Rochester City School District where he is the Director of the Loudoun Academy of Science.

  Besides his teaching career, Mr. Wolfe has also been an Emmy-winning television host, fielding live questions for the PBS/WXXI production of Homework Hotline as well as writing and performing in "Football Physics" segments for the Buffalo Bills and the Discover Channel.

  His contributions to education have been extensive, serving on multiple advisory boards including the Cornell Institute of Physics Teachers, the Cornell Institute of Biology Teachers and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics SportSmarts curriculum project. He has authored several publications including "The Nasonia Project", a lab series built around the genetics and behaviors of a parasitic wasp.

  He has received numerous awards throughout his teaching career including the NSTA Presidential Excellence Award, The National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for New York State, The Shell Award for Outstanding Science Educator, and was recently inducted in the National Teaching Hall of Fame.