Unit 3: Mitosis

 

1) Essential Questions

A) Why do we have the cell cycle and how does it work?

The cell cycle's function is to make our cells reproduce. We have it because if our cells did not reproduce, there would be a point in which they all die and, therefore, we die. It consists in in two main steps: Interphase and Mitosis. Interphase is based on 3 steps: G1, S, and G2. Throughout these first 3 stages, the cell grows and duplicates its organelles. Then in Mitosis there are 4 steps: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase. Throughout these 4 steps, the cell, the nucleus and its contents divide, the DNA condenses and separates, and the cell ends up with two nuclei. Finally, the cell undergoes cytokinesis, where it divides into two cells. 

B) Should we use embryonic stems cells for research?

Medical researchers think that they may be able to save or improve the lives of some people by killing others. So they insist that it should be legal to kill these human beings in order to help others. After learning about embryonic stem cells in class, I think it should not be legal to use them for medical research. After all, it basically means killing an innocent human being to try to help another person in a medical way. Besides, there are many side effects to this, which puts in risk the life of the person who is being treated with these cells. So no, I don't think the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research should be legal.

 

2) How does this connect to the real world?

Mitosis conects to the real world because human kind basically depends on Mitosis. Mitosis is the process in which cells divide. Without this process, we would not be able to make new cells. In fact, I don't think it would be to live without it.  Mitosis is present in our daily life since even before we were born, and in our daily life our cells are constantly undergoing Mitosis. So, actually, the whole world depends on Mitosis, and that is how it is connected to the real world.

 

3) Copy and paste some piece of evidence from the unit (Mitosis poster, assignment etc)

 

 

 

 

 

4) This unit was interesting, yet complicated. I think it was a bit complicated because there were many things to remember. For example, we had to remember the order of the stages of Mitosis and what happened in each one, and sometimes it would be confusing since the names are so similar (Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase). Despite that, I think I did better in this unit compared to the previous one, and I also enjoyed it more because, as I mentioned before, Mitosis is quite an interesting topic.