Mitosis: How Cells Divide

What You'll Learn

Chromosomes are structures made of tightly coiled DNA and proteins. Human body cells have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), while sex cells have 23 chromosomes.

Key Words

gene
chromosome

Materials Needed

scissors
microscope (or magnifying glass)
slides
onion skin
iodine stain

Safety First

Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.

Step 2 — Do

Build a 3D cell model using household materials (plastic bag for membrane, gelatin for cytoplasm, a grape for nucleus). Label all organelles.

Step 3 — Observe

Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is mitosis?