Have you ever had a scar on your knee from playing outside and falling?

Have you ever wondered how the scar healed?

In this cool science book we are going to learn about The Cell Cycle and two different processes called,  Mitosis and Meiosis.

Hi I'm a chromosome

and today were going

to have fun learning. 

Hi, I am also a 

chromosome.

As a chromosome, I work with a team inside your body on something called cells. 

My team is apart of a process called Mitosis.

Using Mitosis, I am able to 

Grow new cells

Repair damaged Cells

Replace old cells

Meet my friends and team members chromatid and centromere. They are apart of my Mitosis process.

Hi, I am a chromatid.

 I work with my friend centromere in the Mitosis process. Together we form chromatids and chromosomes. 

Hi I am a centromere.

 I hold chromatids

 and chromosomes

together at the center like a belt in 

the Mitosis cell cycle. 

CHROMATID

CENTROMERE

We use special tools called 

spindle fibers and centrioles.

 On the next pages, we will learn how these special tools work with chromosomes and chromatids in the Mitosis cell cycle. 

Spindle Fiber

( strong and stretchy jump ropes )

Centrioles

( strong and grips like an iron fist )

NOTE: As mentioned earlier, Mitosis is an important process that either repair, replace or make new cells in your body. This process can be broken down into 4 main stages. Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telephase.

So when you fall on the playground and get a scar, this is how it gets better and new skin is formed. Pay attention to this cool process, that goes on inside your body.

Before new cells are formed the longest process before mitosis starts is known as the Interphase. This phase is similar to making cookies from a recipe book. 

Cells are copied from original cells. New cells are formed with the exact same genetic information known as DNA. The new cell/cells are growing, copying and functioning in this phase.

46

46

46

Let's use chocolate chip cookies to help you understand what happens during Interphase.

Simply put, whatever ingredients are in a cookie's original recipe, the same exact ingredients have to copied in order to make fresh, new cookies with the same color, amount of chocolate chip and everything. 

If it were mitosis, the recipe would result in two cookies with 46 chocolate chips. 

What is your favorite cookies ?

Now let's learn the 4 phases of Mitosis. To make it easier remember "PMAT". Which represents Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase.

Continue reading and see the hard work that is going on inside your body.

Prophase

This is first stage of Mitosis. Chromosomes are visible and becoming thicker.

Metaphase

The chromosomes are aligned

in the middle.

Can you draw the missing 

spindle fibers?