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Use to complete today's classwork

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From BBC Knowledge Explainer. This video is an animated infographic about DNA. Gives a lot of examples and clear visuals.

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BBC Knowledge and Learning is exploring a wide variety of topics from social history to science in a series of three-minute online Explainer documentaries, and commissioned Territory Studio (www.territorystudio.com) to produce an animated film on the subject of DNA. As Will Samuel, lead designer and animator on the project explains, the approach taken wasn't just to look into a scientific future.

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Kids of various ages talk about reproduction with a doctor

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Introduction to Cells: The Grand Cell Tour

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From PBS. Click "Launch Interactive" to begin

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Chances are you've seen an illustration of DNA's double-helix structure and even pictures of the chromosomes that comprise the human genome. But where and how does the famous double helix fit into chromosomes, and how do chromosomes relate to the human body? This animated exploration allows you to travel to the miniature world of DNA, beginning with the body and ending with the atoms that make up a single DNA base.

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Chances are you've seen an illustration of DNA's double-helix structure and even pictures of the chromosomes that comprise the human genome. But where and how does the famous double helix fit into chromosomes, and how do chromosomes relate to the human body?

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Let Jaclyn know if you need help signing in!

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Unlock the secret code to DNA, the basis for all life on Earth!

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Clear information about DNA. This text is not dense at all, so it might be helpful to get an overview of the topic.

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DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Like a recipe book it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies.

Your genome is made of a chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short.

DNA contains four basic building blocks or 'bases': adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T).

The order, or sequence, of these bases form the instructions in the genome.

DNA is a two-stranded molecule.

DNA has a unique 'double helix' shape, like a twisted ladder.

Each strand is composed of long sequences of the four bases, A, C, G and T.

The bases on one strand of the DNA molecule pair together with complementary bases on the opposite strand of DNA to form the 'rungs' of the DNA 'ladder'.

The bases always pair together in the same way, A with T, C with G.

Each base pair is joined together by hydrogen bonds.

Each strand of DNA has a beginning and an end, called 5' (five prime) and 3' (three prime) respectively.

The two strands run in the opposite direction (antiparallel) to each other so that one runs 5' to 3' and one runs 3' to 5', they are called the sense strand and the antisense strand, respectively.

The strands are separated during DNA replication.

This double helix structure was first discovered by Francis Crick and James Watson with the help of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.

The human genome is made of 3.2 billion bases of DNA but other organisms have different genome sizes.

Which of these best describes your occupation?

how old are students / how old are you?

How has the site influenced you (or others)?

Thankyou, we value your feedback!

If you have any other comments or suggestions, please let us know at comment@yourgenome.org

Can you spare 5-8 minutes to tell us what you think of this website? Open survey

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DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Like a recipe book it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. Your genome is made of a chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short.

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Stated Clearly: What is DNA and How Does It Work?

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Stated Clearly: What is DNA and How Does It Work?

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Clear explanation of DNA and how it is the blueprint for life.

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Learn how DNA creates a living creature! Here you will be introduced to the genetic code, DNA transcription and translation, and the importance of proteins in the chemistry of life.

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From the site yourgenome.org. Some text and a very helpful visual.

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Mitosis is a process where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells (cell division).

During mitosis one cell divides once to form two identical cells.

The major purpose of mitosis is for growth and to replace worn out cells.

If not corrected in time, mistakes made during mitosis can result in changes in the DNA that can potentially lead to genetic disorders.

Mitosis is divided into five phases:
1. Interphase:

The DNA in the cell is copied in preparation for cell division, this results in two identical full sets of chromosomes.

Outside of the nucleus are two centrosomes, each containing a pair of centrioles, these structures are critical for the process of cell division.

During interphase, microtubules extend from these centrosomes.

2. Prophase:

The chromosomes condense into X-shaped structures that can be easily seen under a microscope.

Each chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids, containing identical genetic information.

The chromosomes pair up so that both copies of chromosome 1 are together, both copies of chromosome 2 are together, and so on.

At the end of prophase the membrane around the nucleus in the cell dissolves away releasing the chromosomes.

The mitotic spindle, consisting of the microtubules and other proteins, extends across the cell between the centrioles as they move to opposite poles of the cell.

3. Metaphase:

The chromosomes line up neatly end-to-end along the centre (equator) of the cell.

The centrioles are now at opposite poles of the cell with the mitotic spindle fibres extending from them.

The mitotic spindle fibres attach to each of the sister chromatids.

4. Anaphase:

The sister chromatids are then pulled apart by the mitotic spindle which pulls one chromatid to one pole and the other chromatid to the opposite pole.
5. Telophase:

At each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.

A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new nuclei.

The single cell then pinches in the middle to form two separate daughter cells each containing a full set of chromosomes within a nucleus. This process is known as cytokinesis.

Which of these best describes your occupation?

how old are students / how old are you?

How has the site influenced you (or others)?

Thankyou, we value your feedback!

If you have any other comments or suggestions, please let us know at comment@yourgenome.org

Can you spare 5-8 minutes to tell us what you think of this website? Open survey

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Mitosis is a process where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells (cell division). During mitosis one cell divides once to form two identical cells. The major purpose of mitosis is for growth and to replace worn out cells.

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A straightforward overview of each type of cell division

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exists in a cell's nucleus within structures called . Each section of a chromosome that contains the code for the production of a particular protein is called a .

Each chromosome is made from a single molecule of DNA, but when a cell is ready to divide, the DNA copies itself, then coils and condenses to form the chromosomes that we see in .

Each human body cell contains 46 chromosomes. These can be arranged into 23 pairs.

Each chromosome in a pair carries the same genes. One chromsome was inherited from the organism's mother, and is known as the chromosome, and the other chromsome in the pair was inherited from the organism's father, and is known as the chromosome.

The 23rd pair is the sex chromosomes. In females, the two chromosomes are identical in shape. There are two X chromosomes. Females are referred to as XX.

In males, one of the sex chromosomes is a different shape. There is an X and also a Y chromosome. Males are referred to as XY.

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How do organisms grow and develop? - OCR 21C - Revision 1 - GCSE Combined Science - BBC Bitesize

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exists in a cell's nucleus within structures called . Each section of a chromosome that contains the code for the production of a particular protein is called a . Each chromosome is made from a single molecule of DNA, but when a cell is ready to divide, the DNA copies itself, then coils and condenses to form the chromosomes that we see in .

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From Amaze. An animated summary of human reproduction.

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Summary of fertilization and pregnancy from BrainPop

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From fertilization through pregnancy to birth, it takes a lot to make a person! And Moby's got a toasty little bundle of joy. . .

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From BrainPop.

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A movie about how reproduction, and the seminal tale of when sperm meets egg and fertilization ensues. Hey, it happened to you!

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From Glencoe Integrated Science. Four pages of straightforward and clear information about human reproduction and development.

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Sperm, egg, and baby in womb explained by the book Biology: Life as We Know It! written by Dan Green.

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From the Genetic Science Learning Center. This page has articles and interactive pages to explore.

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Learn.Genetics visitors, We're asking for your help. For over 20 years, the Learn.Genetics website has provided engaging, multimedia educational materials at no cost. Learn.Genetics is one of the most-used science websites. Tens of millions of visitors come to our site each year to find the science and health information they're looking for.

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All life on Earth has one language in common: the genetic code!

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Articles, interviews, and games from the American Museum of Natural History

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Reliable genetics resources.

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The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users with questions about a personal health condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional .

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The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users with questions about a personal health condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional .

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From Genetics Home Reference

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An introduction to fundamental topics related to human genetics, including illustrations and basic explanations of genetics concepts.

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Did you know your body has building blocks? They’re your cells! Learn about organelles and membranes, plus how big cells can get—over one meter long?!

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An interactive from National Geographic

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The evil Mr. X released a dangerous virus and hid the antivirus formula inside the organelles of a cell! Special agent Luca has volunteered to be micronized and enter the cell. Help her search for the formula while Hooke, her partner, provides information about cell structures and their function!

Pre-Discussion Questions:

What is a cell?

What is an organelle?

What are the major parts of the cell?

What is a virus (if you don't know the definition, an example will do)?

What functions does a cell need to perform to survive?

Post Discussion Questions:

According to the game, what are five life functions of cells?

What is the difference between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell, and why did she think that this one is probably eukaryotic?

Explain what the following cell structures do: cell membrane, Golgi apparatus, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome, vacuole, lysosome, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and nucleus?

Why does the cell create many mitochondria?

Have a debate - which organelle visited in the game do you think is the most important?

Use the images in the game to sketch the shape of each organelle?

Media Credits

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October 19, 2023

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The evil Mr. X released a dangerous virus and hid the antivirus formula inside the organelles of a cell! Special agent Luca has volunteered to be micronized and enter the cell. Help her search for the formula while Hooke, her partner, provides information about cell structures and their function!

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Amoeba Sisters: Mitosis and Meiosis Comparison

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Amoeba Sisters: Mitosis and Meiosis Comparison

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This video is intermediate level. It has a little more vocabulary and dense information, but it is a nice comparison and it is clearly presented.

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Mitosis vs. Meiosis: Side by Side Comparison

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A protist (microorganism) reproducing through binary fission, a kind of asexual reproduction

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"The Sex Lives of Christmas Trees" by PBS

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A video of a hydra "budding," another form of asexual reproduction

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Types of reproduction review (article) | Khan Academy

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If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

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Amoeba Sisters: Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

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Amoeba Sisters: Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

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Fuse School: Sexual Reproduction in Plants

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Fuse School: Sexual Reproduction in Plants

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Sexual Reproduction in Plants | Plants | Biology | FuseSchool

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For an organism to grow, rebuild tissues, and reproduce, cells must divide. Every division requires replicating and then evenly dividing the cell's massive jumble of DNA. This video segment follows the stages of mitosis, the systematic process that ensures that daughter cells formed when plant and animal cells divide get equal shares of DNA.

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Shows all the steps of Mitosis and Meiosis

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Before We Split
Welcome to Mitosis vs. Meiosis.

This half of the screen illustrates mitosis-the division of a cell's nucleus. Along with cytokinesis (the division of the rest of a cell), mitosis results in a parent cell dividing into two daughter cells. The genetic information within each of these daughter cells is identical.

A human cell contains 46 chromosomes. To simplify our illustration, we'll show only four.

Before We Split
Though the genetic code of a human being is contained within 46 chromosomes, only half of this number exists within the cell of a sperm or egg. If the cells didn't have half, a fertilized egg would contain 92 chromosomes and be untenable. Meiosis, a type of cell division specific to reproduction, avoids this by halving the number of chromosomes in a cell.

The cell shown here will divide twice, resulting in four cells. Each of these cells will have only half the number of chromosomes, but each chromosome will contain genetic information from both parents.

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NOVA Online | Life's Greatest Miracle | How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis (text version)

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Before We Split Welcome to Mitosis vs. Meiosis. This half of the screen illustrates mitosis-the division of a cell's nucleus. Along with cytokinesis (the division of the rest of a cell), mitosis results in a parent cell dividing into two daughter cells. The genetic information within each of these daughter cells is identical.

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Reproduction - The Pros and Cons of Each Method

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Reproduction - The Pros and Cons of Each Method

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A very good beginner text

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DNA is the material that carries all the information about how a living thing will look and function. For instance, DNA in humans determines such things as what color the...

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From the site yourgenome.org. Some facts, plus a helpful visual of the steps of meiosis.

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Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells - sperm in males, eggs in females.

During meiosis one cell divides twice to form four daughter cells.

These four daughter cells only have half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell - they are haploid.

Meiosis produces our sex cells or gametes (eggs in females and sperm in males).

Meiosis can be divided into nine stages. These are divided between the first time the cell divides (meiosis I) and the second time it divides (meiosis II):

Meiosis I
1. Interphase:

The DNA in the cell is copied resulting in two identical full sets of chromosomes.

Outside of the nucleus are two centrosomes, each containing a pair of centrioles, these structures are critical for the process of cell division.

During interphase, microtubules extend from these centrosomes.

2. Prophase I:

The copied chromosomes condense into X-shaped structures that can be easily seen under a microscope.

Each chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids containing identical genetic information.

The chromosomes pair up so that both copies of chromosome 1 are together, both copies of chromosome 2 are together, and so on.

The pairs of chromosomes may then exchange bits of DNA in a process called recombination or crossing over.

At the end of Prophase I the membrane around the nucleus in the cell dissolves away, releasing the chromosomes.

The meiotic spindle, consisting of microtubules and other proteins, extends across the cell between the centrioles.

3. Metaphase I:

The chromosome pairs line up next to each other along the centre (equator) of the cell.

The centrioles are now at opposites poles of the cell with the meiotic spindles extending from them.

The meiotic spindle fibres attach to one chromosome of each pair.

4. Anaphase I:

The pair of chromosomes are then pulled apart by the meiotic spindle, which pulls one chromosome to one pole of the cell and the other chromosome to the opposite pole.

In meiosis I the sister chromatids stay together. This is different to what happens in mitosis and meiosis II.

5. Telophase I and cytokinesis:

The chromosomes complete their move to the opposite poles of the cell.

At each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.

A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new nuclei.

The single cell then pinches in the middle to form two separate daughter cells each containing a full set of chromosomes within a nucleus. This process is known as cytokinesis.

Meiosis II
6. Prophase II:

Now there are two daughter cells, each with 23 chromosomes (23 pairs of chromatids).

In each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes condense again into visible X-shaped structures that can be easily seen under a microscope.

The membrane around the nucleus in each daughter cell dissolves away releasing the chromosomes.

The centrioles duplicate.

The meiotic spindle forms again.

7. Metaphase II:

In each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes (pair of sister chromatids) line up end-to-end along the equator of the cell.

The centrioles are now at opposites poles in each of the daughter cells.

Meiotic spindle fibres at each pole of the cell attach to each of the sister chromatids.

8. Anaphase II:

The sister chromatids are then pulled to opposite poles due to the action of the meiotic spindle.

The separated chromatids are now individual chromosomes.

9. Telophase II and cytokinesis:

The chromosomes complete their move to the opposite poles of the cell.

At each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.

A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new cell nuclei.

This is the last phase of meiosis, however cell division is not complete without another round of cytokinesis.

Once cytokinesis is complete there are four granddaughter cells, each with half a set of chromosomes (haploid):

in males, these four cells are all sperm cells

in females, one of the cells is an egg cell while the other three are polar bodies (small cells that do not develop into eggs).

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Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells - sperm in males, eggs in females. During meiosis one cell divides twice to form four daughter cells.

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Before We Split
Welcome to Mitosis vs. Meiosis.

This half of the screen illustrates mitosis-the division of a cell's nucleus. Along with cytokinesis (the division of the rest of a cell), mitosis results in a parent cell dividing into two daughter cells. The genetic information within each of these daughter cells is identical.

A human cell contains 46 chromosomes. To simplify our illustration, we'll show only four.

Before We Split
Though the genetic code of a human being is contained within 46 chromosomes, only half of this number exists within the cell of a sperm or egg. If the cells didn't have half, a fertilized egg would contain 92 chromosomes and be untenable. Meiosis, a type of cell division specific to reproduction, avoids this by halving the number of chromosomes in a cell.

The cell shown here will divide twice, resulting in four cells. Each of these cells will have only half the number of chromosomes, but each chromosome will contain genetic information from both parents.

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NOVA Online | Life's Greatest Miracle | How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis (text version)

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Before We Split Welcome to Mitosis vs. Meiosis. This half of the screen illustrates mitosis-the division of a cell's nucleus. Along with cytokinesis (the division of the rest of a cell), mitosis results in a parent cell dividing into two daughter cells. The genetic information within each of these daughter cells is identical.

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From VCell

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Meiosis | Virtual Cell Animation Collection

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Many organisms pass their genes to their offspring through sexual reproduction. This begins when two gametes unite to form an embryo that is genetically unique from the parent organisms. The embryo then grows into an adult who in turn passes their genetic information on to their offspring.

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Meiosis from Amoeba Sisters. An expert level text.

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Meiosis from Amoeba Sisters. An expert level text.

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Meiosis from Cognito. An expert level text.

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Meiosis from Cognito. An expert level text.

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A text that explains vocabulary well. From CK-12 Life Science For Middle School.

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How do cells divide?: MedlinePlus Genetics

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There are two types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Learn more about what happens to cells during each of these processes.