 All living organisms are made of cells.  Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in all living things.  Cells come from pre-existing cells.  Through both sexual and asexual reproduction.

Look at the picture to the left. The green part of the potato will grow into a second potato. Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction in which a new organism is produced from one parent and has the same DNA as the parent. How does this happen?

 Interphase - preparing for cell division by copying/replicating the DNA. This is the longest phase of the cell cycle.  Mitosis - dividing the material to be able to form 2 new cells  Cytokinesis - the actual separation or division of the cell

 Interphase- The first stage of the cell cycle. Interphase happens BEFORE cell division.  Several things must occur first before the cell can divide. The most important thing is for the DNA to be copied or replicated so that each cell has a copy of the original DNA. It is “unzipped” and base pairs match up to create 2 strands from the original.

 Mitosis- The stage of the cell cycle where the cell’s nucleus actually divides into 2 new nuclei resulting in an exact copy.  Both cells now have the same genetic code.  Two identical copies come from one original.  Start with one cell and get two that are the same.  Mitosis is divided into four stages of its own.  Prophase  Metaphase  Anaphase  Telophase

 Cells have a limited lifespan. They eventually can’t function and need to be replaced.  The cell cycle with mitosis is the beginning of the process by which the cells are replaced with exact clones of the old cell. Mitosis Video Clip

 Cancer happens when a mistake is made in mitosis.  For reasons that scientists are still trying to figure out, a cell or group of cells begins to replicate themselves very quickly.  These abnormal cells then can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer Cell vs Normal Cell Growth

 Cytokinesis - the last stage of the cell division cycle.  The cell membrane pinches in around the middle of the cell.  The cell splits in two daughter cells.  Each daughter cell ends up with an identical set of chromosomes and about half of the organelles.  At the end of cytokinesis, each new cell enters interphase and the cycle starts over. cytokinesis in plant and animal cells

 A type of reproduction in which a new organism is produced from one parent and has the same DNA or genetic material as the parent.  Making an exact copy of a cell.  To allow growth and development  To replace old cells  To repair damaged cells  To create new organisms Brain Pop Asexual Reproduction

 Mitosis  Cloning  Budding  Animal Regeneration