Purpose
Virtually every multicellular organism, including you, goes from a single-celled fertilized egg to a large, multicellular organism via the cell cycle. In this post you will demonstrate an understanding of how the process of mitosis leads to the growth of an organism but also how this process, when left unchecked or when something goes wrong, that uncontrolled mitosis can lead to various disorders, tumors, or cancers.
Task
This week’s discussion involves 2 parts. Be sure to respond completely to both prompts in your post.
- Part 1: From a single fertilized egg into a multicellular organism, how does mitosis explain the process of growth, development, and the production of different cell types?
- Part 2: Choose a particular condition related to the overgrowth/proliferation of cells, or an unregulated cell cycle. You may come across different skin conditions, blood disorders, cancers, or other types of growths/tumors. Briefly describe the condition, how it is treated, how mitosis plays a role, and why you chose that condition (is there a personal connection?). Be sure to cite your sources accordingly.
NOTE: In order to create discussion "threads" or a continual discussion among groups of students, be sure to add a question at the end of each post.
Helpful resources:
Grading Criteria
- Your understanding of the role of mitosis in organismal growth.
- Your explanation of how cell differentiation creates specialized cells in a multicellular organism (including examples of specialized cells).
- Your peer responses are substantive and thoughtful and advance the discussion by introducing new insights or perspectives, and/or significantly deepening or broadening the conversation with questions.
Your use of language: your writing should be clear, well-organized, and free from spelling and grammar errors. Citations should be included where necessary.