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Chapter 11: The Continuity of Life: Cellular Reproduction Links

The following Web sites are just some of the interesting resources related to inheritance. As you link to the sites, compare and contrast the information on the site with what you have learned in class, from the textbook, and from other sources you have read. Be sure to share interesting sites with your classmates.

Zebrafish Development

Once a sperm and an egg have fused, mitosis takes over and produces the cells needed to form the embryo. The extensive diagrams and photos at this site illustrate the process in zebrafish, a popular experimental organism.

Cell Cycle

A good overview of the cell cycle in eukaryotes is presented at this site.

Overview of Cell Division

This attractive site provides a good overview of cell division and also gives a view of cell division in prokaryotes versus eukaryotes.

2) How Is DNA in Eukaryotic Cells Organized into Chromosomes?

Chromosome Structure

This site give a good overview of eukaryotic chromosome structure.

Color-Coded Chromosomes

New methods are available to "paint" each human chromosome a different color! This method allows finer analysis of chromosome structure and abnormalities than was previously possible.

The Human Genome

Although this site is a little old, it has fantastic information for relating human chromosomes to the important genes that are on them.

Human Chromosomes

This is a fabulous site that shows karyotypes (chromosomes) from a variety of individuals.

Karyotyping

This on-line activity takes you through an analysis of human chromosomes and how these studies can be used to predict certain genetic disorders.

Yeast Chromosomes

The entire sequence of the yeast genome is known. Check out this site to review the relationship among chromosomes, genes, and DNA sequence. You can follow links all the way to the nucleotide sequences of any gene you wish!

3) How Do Cells Reproduce by Mitotic Cell Division?

Mitosis Review

Take this on-line quiz to check your mastery of mitosis. (This site also contains information about meiosis and comparisons between mitosis and meiosis.)

Spindle Microtubules

These amazing pictures show microtubule organization at interphase and during several stages of mitosis. (The microtubules are stained green, and the DNA is stained blue.)

Cytokinesis Movie

This site shows several very nice examples of cytokinesis by the protistan Dictyostelium.

Modified Cell Cycle

There is no growth phase in early divisions after an egg is fertilized, but instead the cell cycle is a simple alternation between S phase (DNA replication) and cytokinesis. View that process at this site.

4) Why Do So Many Organisms Reproduce Sexually?

Why Sexual Reproduction?

This site explores some of the reasons sex exists. The viewpoint of the authors of this site supports a very controversial idea about the origins of life on Earth: that it arrived from outer space.

Why Have Sex?

This site examines critically one hypothesis that might explain why sexual reproduction is favored: that it helps to eliminate harmful mutations.

5) How Does Meiotic Cell Division Produce Haploid Cells?

Meiosis Review

Take this on-line quiz to check your mastery of meiosis. This site also contains information about mitosis and comparisons between mitosis and meiosis.

6) How Do Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction Produce Genetic Variability?

Independent Assortment

This site clearly shows how the independent alignment of chromosomes during metaphase I of meiosis can result in variation. Be sure to check out the animations.

Crossing Over

This simple animation shows how crossing over during prophase I of meiosis results in increased genetic diversity.

Crossing Over and Recombination

This site provides a clear diagram of crossing over during meiosis.