All multicellular organisms need to replicate their cells to grow, replace and repair their bodies. The cell cycle is a process that involves phases of normal growth followed by replication to produce genetically identical daughter cells. When this process goes wrong, cells can undergo abnormal growth and replication, which results in cancerous cells. At different stages of cell division, there are cellular checkpoints that control division and prevent abnormal growth.
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The cell cycle
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→ binary fission in prokaryotic cells → the eukaryotic cell cycle, including the characteristics of each of the sub-phases of mitosis and cytokinesis in plant and animal cells → apoptosis as a regulated process of programmed cell death → disruption to the regulation of the cell cycle and malfunctions in apoptosis that may result in deviant cell behaviour: cancer and the characteristics of cancer cells → properties of stem cells that allow for differentiation, specialisation and renewal of cells and tissues, including the concepts of pluripotency and totipotency
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Source: VCE Biology Study Design (2022–2026) reproduced by permission © VCAA
FIGURE 1 The cell cycle describes the life cycle and replication of a cell. This image is of binary fission – one cell has replicated its genetic material and the two daughter cells are splitting apart.
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BIOLOGY FOR VCE UNITS 1 & 2
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
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