StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Principles of Biology: Mitosis - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Principles of Biology: Mitosis" explores Cell division as a basic phenomenon of life in living organisms. It is here that we comprehend that despite being the difference in their outward appearance this basic phenomenon invariably remains the same…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.3% of users find it useful
Principles of Biology: Mitosis
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Principles of Biology: Mitosis"

?Principles of Biology: Mitosis XYZ Section: UVW Magazine/ Journal: eLife Publication 20 Feb, of Article: Mitosis: Developing cell biology Page Number: p 1 - 3 Author (s) Name: Daniel Needleman Synopsis: Cell division is a basic phenomenon of life in living organisms. It is known that the process of cell division, irrespective of the animal species, remains invariably the same. It is here that we comprehend that despite being the different in their outward appearance this basic phenomenon invariably remains the same. In byline, the author of the article, Daniel Needleman, has said that experimentation has been able to understand the difference that exists in this cell division phenomenon among the animals. This difference is found out to reside on the chromosomal and molecular level rather on higher level view. This difference can also exist even between similar organisms. Over a long period of time, it was known that spindle fibers that segregate chromosomes during cell division show great variation in size and shape, but the underlying reason was not discovered. Experiments have shown that the embryos that undergo the process of division, after repeated division cycles, considerably reduced in size and so did the spindle sizes. The experiments conducted on organisms like mouse have revealed many facts yet it has been difficult to ascertain any explicit cause to the phenomenon. Thus, another aspect that is attributed with the change is the change in biochemistry during the course of cell division. To infer a proximal result of the obvious phenomenon, a causative analysis is used as help. Cellular biology research has, therefore, evaluated a relationship during the course of development, between protein and phenotype. They are known to be rudimentary elements in the research, thus disturbing one can produce a change in the other co-existing part of the combination. Spindles are basically composed of microtubules that are in turn composed of protein tubulin. Here we can comprehend the phenomenon of reduction in the size of spindles i.e. depletion of these protein tubilins. To be sure about the phenomenon, Wilbur and Heald of University of California at Berkeley, devised an experiment to understand what causes this reduction. This experiment is multistage causal analysis procedure (Wilbur and Held). Embryos are subjected to tests during different stages of their development. It revealed that the change in size of spindles was not caused by division rather it was related to the state of cytoplasm. This in turn puts a question mark on how cytoplasm produces such change. To answer this question a categorization of the same microtubules was made. Early stages revealed less de-polymerization or catastrophe to these microtubules, as compared to those in the late stages. This revelation through stag-wise analysis did not reveal the true picture that could be able to answer above mentioned questions. Varying lengths of microtubules during the de-polymerization cannot be understandable reason. Later Wilbur and Heald used another approach to understand the size variation of spindles. Cytoplasm and its effects on elementary protein structures of spindles were analyzed. Proteins responsible for microtubule catastrophies in different extracts were identified as Kinesin-13 and Kif2a. Kif2a was thought to be the reason of change in spindle sizes but extracts have revealed that concentration of this type of proteins remains constant during all stages of development. A co-existing phenomenon of importin-alpha attaching to the membrane or leaving the cytoplasmic area caused kif2a to be more active, that in turns increases microtubule catastrophy rates. (Wilbur Heald, 2013) Suggestion about this mechanism is perhaps understandable with the help of biochemistry, as with change in size due to successive divisions cause greater surface to volume ration than in larger cells. The only point in this understandable phenomenon is that why importin-alpha tends to be sequestered with the cell membrane during later stages. To be succinct about the phenomenon, it can be said that the changing biochemistry of cytoplasm causes change in size of spindles and it is perhaps an astounding conclusion. (Needleman 2013) Analysis: The author, Daniel Needleman has taken a causal analysis for the finding the reason for changes that occur in the size of spindles, during the course of continuous cell divisions. It is important here to mention that the reasoning is based on causal analysis that uses approximation. The clear picture of the phenomenon of change in the size of spindles during the later stages has been attributed to two probable causes; first relates the microtubule de-polymerization to the change in size, while the other one pertains to the change in activity of special proteins. The author has taken different approaches to ascertain the causes. But in fact the conclusion is perhaps an open ended argument. The author has not tried any eclectic approach that is commonly seen today in scientific inquiry methods. To describe the hypothesis he has used certain experiment results with variables that do not show typical variation during the course of propagation of stages. For example, it is seen that the concentration of certain micro-tubular proteins remains the same during early and later stages. This cannot be termed as sole basis for the conclusion. Although the author has recognized this fact, and invited and concluded that further experimentation can reveal more comprehension to understanding the phenomenon, but there has been no summing up of the causes and no eclectic approach towards fact finding analysis. The author has explained the slack or missing information that has, as yet, impeded total comprehension of the long known phenomenon of change in size of spindles. The factorial analysis is still point of discussion, as the author has stated in the concluding paragraph. The author has realized that whether the differences in spindles structure primarily caused by one or two factors, or are there more unknown factor that should be involved in answering the question. This analysis is understandable because in scientific studies objective approach is the only way to understand phenomenon Cell biology also uses empirical results. If experimentation can result in achieving certain conclusions, then there should be no probable or causal explanations. Determinists are of the same view and thus this perspective of comprehending natural sconces should be used to make clear explanation of the real causes for the change in size of the spindles. Intellectual Benefit (Evaluating the Article): From the article it is revealing that following two approaches, to comprehend biological bases of events, are being used in natural sciences, namely, causal analysis approach and candidate approach. In these approaches change in one variable is keenly observed to note change in any other factor or variable. In causal analysis, what causes what is noted, whereas, in candidate approach, change is immediate surroundings are noted for any sort of change in the object under observation. Another benefit of the article was to understand how cellular organisms are subjected to analysis. Their compositional elements and factors are subjected to experimentation. As in this article the basic protein structure of spindles was noted. Then the categorization of these proteins was analyzed with their co-occurring elements. This can be seen in the case of protein and phenotype analysis. This analysis resulted in a conclusion that phenomenon of de-polymerization occurs due to repeated divisions of the cells. This division causes depletion of tubulin that constitutes the micro-tubule structure of proteins. The analysis of the author has concluded in a very convincing way. It stated the probability of multi factorial reasons for the change in spindle sizes. It further explained that MCAK an type of protein category may have variable activity level at different stages. This MCAK activity is attributed to the increase in catastrophy changes that depletes tubulin causing reduction in size. The author has also helped, readers, bring home to the point that approximation needs further studies so as to clearly ascertain the cause. References Needleman, Daniel. "Developing cell biology | eLife." eLife | The open-access journal for outstanding advances in life science and biomedicine, backed by the funders of research. Harvard University, United States, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. Wilbur, Jeremy D. "Mitotic spindle scaling during Xenopus development by kif2a and importin ? | eLife." eLife | The open-access journal for outstanding advances in life science and biomedicine, backed by the funders of research. N.p., 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Mitosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/biology/1474511-mitosis
(Mitosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/biology/1474511-mitosis.
“Mitosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/biology/1474511-mitosis.
  • Cited: 1 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Principles of Biology: Mitosis

Candidate Cancer Meiosis Genes

The paper 'Candidate Cancer Meiosis Genes' seeks to evaluate carcinogenesis as a complex and multistage process.... Cancer is difficult to treat and it is important to detect it early so that therapeutic and surgical strategies can be developed to treat cancer.... ... ... ... Research has shown that some of these genes that are only expressed in the testes are also expressed in other somatic cells when they become cancerous tumor cells....
24 Pages (6000 words) Literature review

Oogenesis: The Formation of the Egg

In the paper “Gametogenesis” the author analyzes a biological process by which diploid or haploid precursor cells undergo cell division and differentiation to form mature haploid gametes.... Gametogenesis occurs by meiotic division of diploid gametocytes into various gametes.... ... ... ... In the paper the author analyzes the early stage of embryonic development, when groups of cells become committed to differentiate into various cell types such as liver cells, nerve cells and muscle cells....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Reproductive System

Name of the student biology Name of the professor 26 May 2012 Reproductive System Case study Julia and Ross were referred to an infertility specialist by their primary physician.... The couple had been married for two years.... Husband was 35 years old and wife was 32 years old.... ...
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

Compare and Contrast Meiosis vs Mitosis

Running Head: mitosis AND MEIOSIS Comparison and Contrast of mitosis and Meiosis [Name of the Writer] [Name of the Institution] Comparison and Contrast of mitosis and Meiosis The eukaryotic cells get divided by partitioning its chromosomes into two indistinguishable sets of chromosomes and this process occurs in the nucleus of the cell, this process of cell division is called mitosis1.... In simple words, the parent cell gets separated into two daughter cells that are similar to the parent cell in the process of mitosis....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Similarities and Differences in Mitosis and Meiosis

This short essay compares and contrasts the two mechanisms of cell division viz namely mitosis and Meiosis.... These mechanisms are presented in the form of mitosis and meiosis.... mitosis comprises of standard steps of Interphase, Prophase, Prometaphase, Anaphase and Telophase.... Lehninger, 2008) In the Prophase in mitosis, four chromatids combine to form a pair of chromosomes which are joined by a centromere.... In the Metaphase in mitosis, the two chromosomes line up in the center and split up into four chromatids which move to both of the poles....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Biology Issues: Carbon Cycles, Lizard Species, DNA Visibility

This scholarship essay "biology Issues: Carbon Cycles, Lizard Species, DNA Visibility" presents carbon cycles through the ecosystem between the atmosphere, organisms, and decomposers.... His theory can be summarized in the following principles.... This natural cycle maintains a somewhat constant level of carbon in the atmosphere....
8 Pages (2000 words) Scholarship Essay

Microscopes and Cell Biology

Microscopes enlarge specimens and formulate them to emerge bigger than they accurately are.... This allows individuals to precisely study and depict cells and infinitesimal.... ... ... A microscope has very many parts that play major roles in the magnification of specimen.... These parts are build together to ensure that they work together to achieve magnification....
10 Pages (2500 words) Lab Report

Biological principles

The living cells can be molecularly categorized into two different types of cells that assist in the structure and function of the particular organism. ... ... t.... ... ... Cells are the basic building blocks of a living body.... In order to form a complex body the cells are grouped into tissues and the tissues in turn form organs....
6 Pages (1500 words) Term Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us