Cell Division and the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle Teachable Tidbit: Mitosis and Meiosis
Synopsis:
This activity is designed to help students with the concepts of mitosis and meiosis. Specifically, the activity is designed to help students learn the different recognized stages of mitosis, differentiate homologous and nonhomologous chromosomes and recognize sister chromatids (duplicated chromosomes). In addition, students complete an activity in which they simulate/model the process of meiosis, while comparing and contrasting the outcomes of mitosis and meiosis. A variety of instructional techniques are employed, including video, lecture, active group work, and questioning. The activity is designed to work for any class size, and is applicable to both majors and non-majors courses in introductory biology. The activities may work best in a recitation setting, though slight modifications could facilitate its application in a large lecture setting.
Scientific Teaching at a Glance...
Active Learning |
Backward Design |
Assessment |
Diversity |
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Pipe cleaners are used to model chromatids to help them progress through a worksheet. |
One of the learning goals is for students to understand the difference between homologous and non-homologous chromosomes and the difference between chromatids and chromosomes. A learning outcome associated with this learning goal is to differentiate homologous and non-homologous pairs of chromosomes and duplicated and unduplicated chromosomes. Students can assess themselves (with help from other students) on how well they are achieving this learning goal by working in groups to complete the activity where cell division is mimicked using pipe cleaners. |
Students compare their answers to other the answers of neighboring groups, allowing for the students to get feedback before the instructor goes over the activity. |
This lesson utilizes group work, which allows the questions to be tackled from multiple different perspectives. |
Files associated with this Teachable Tidbit can be downloaded directly using these links:
Activity Details:
Authors:
- Lubomira Cubonova (cubonova.1@osu.edu)
- Tasha Wilkie (wilkie.20@osu.edu)
- Wilbur Ouma (ouma.2@osu.edu)
Learning Goal(s):
- Students will understand difference between homologous and non-homologous chromosomes and difference between chromosomes and chromatids
- Students will understand key steps and mechanisms of mitosis and meiosis
- Students will understand similarities and differences between mitotic and meiotic cell divisions; different roles and consequences
From Executive Summary (linked above)
Learning Outcomes:
Students should be able to…
- ...identify different stages of mitosis
- ...differentiate homologous and non-homologous pairs of chromosomes, duplicated and unduplicated
chromosomes - ...simulate process of meiosis and draw outcomes of different stages of meiosis
- ...compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis activity worksheets and describe similar and unique steps
- ...explain different chromosomal outcome in both division
From "Outline for Cell division tidbit" document (linked above)
How Diversity is Specifically Addressed:
-Activities are designed to be executed in groups (of two or four). Group-work will promote sharing of different skills and opinions. Additionally, groups will be diverse (culturally, racially and gender)
-Care was taken to ensure that words that ostracize different groups are not used, for instance use of ‘typical’ or ‘atypical’ karyotypes
-Different aspects of learning styles have been incorporated in the tidbit: in-class activities, group discussions
From "Outline for Cell division tidbit" document (linked above)
Activity Timeline:
Introductory activity: Mitosis
Objective: to test student’s understanding of mitosis
Students are required to watch a mitosis video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hn3sA0ip0) before the activities.
Method: Students work in groups of 4 or 5. Distribute the ‘mitosis activity’ to students and ask them to order the stages sequentially. Walk to each group to determine whether students are able to order the stages correctly. Conclude activity by summarizing the mitotic steps as a class.
Simulation of meiosis
Students work in groups of 5 or 6
Method: Hand out 2 bags per group – each bag contains six pipe cleaners, with three different colors and two different shades of same color. This represents three pairs of homologous chromosomes and material for duplication (total 2 bags- ask students why two bags are provided). The firs bag is labelled “unduplicated starting materials”- implying unduplicated DNA before S-phase; and the second bag labelled “Raw materials for duplication”.
Hand out the meiotic worksheet. Students will draw chromosomes in different stages of meiosis in the meiosis worksheet as they simulate meiosis (make sure that students simulate cross-over), while answering two questions for each stage. At the end of the simulation, students collect their chromosomes into four separate bags representing four new daughter cells. Students will then compare their outcome with the outcome of their neighboring groups.
Review meiosis as a class by projecting the whole process on the board.
From "Outline for Cell division tidbit" document (linked above)
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