HS - LS1 Cell Division - FINAL (ACM 12-7-13)

Module: Cell Division

DCI: LS1.B In multicellular organisms, individual cells grow and then divide via a process call mitosis, thereby allowing the organism to grow. The organisms begins as a single cell (fertilized egg) that divides successively to produce many cells, with each parent cell passing identical genetic material (two variants of each chromosome pair) to both daughter cells. Cellular division and differentiation produce and maintain a complex organism, composed of systems of tissues and organs that work together to meet the needs of the whole organism.

 PE: HS-LS1-4 Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

[Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include specific gene control mechanisms or rote memorization of the steps of mitosis.]

Here are a list of the subconcepts that we see within the standard. 

-individual cells cannot grow indefinitely, but reach a certain point at which they must divide. 

-Multicellular organisms grow through the mechanism of cell division. 

-During cell division, two daughter cells are produced that are genetically identical to the parent cell. 

-Complexity of multicellular organisms is achieved through differentiation. 

-Steps within mitosis can be referenced in a question, so long as the correct answer does not depend on identifying the steps by name or knowing what happens within each step. 

Possible Question Starters: 

-How is growth in multicellular organisms achieved?