Please do not start working on this until we discuss it in class. You should work on this lab individually (without the use of AI), and your answers should all be your own.
Introduction:
The life cycle of a eukaryotic cell (or cell cycle as it is known) is divided into characteristic phases. During G1, S, and G2 (collectively known as interphase) the cell grows, replicates its DNA and prepares for division. After the successful completion of interphase, the cell is then able to undergo mitosis, the division of genetic material and the nucleus, and cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm.
Each phase of mitosis is characterized by certain key events, and all eukaryotic organisms go through a very similar set of mitotic stages. In this lab, you will observe mitosis in onion root tip cells that have been dyed to make their DNA visible. The objective of the lab is to become familiar with the appearance of each phase of mitosis and to gain an appreciation of the relative duration of each phase of the cell cycle.
Below are two images that might be helpful when going through this lab. The first is an image labeling the parts of the cells. The second is an image showing you the different stages of the cell cycle (what they look like in an onion cell). Click on the "zoom in" in the upper right to see these images fully/closely.
