General

Biology 1 12
Biology 1 – Grade 12
Quarter 1 – Module 13: The Cell
Cycle First Edition, 2020

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 General
Biology 1 12
Quarter 1
Self-Learning Module13
Cell Cycle
Introductory Message

For the Facilitator:

Welcome to Biology 1 Grade 12 Self-Learning Module on Cell Cycle!

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to Biology 1 Self-Learning Module on Cell Cycle!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS
In the previous lesson, you have learned about cells; its types, the organelles,
cell theory and the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and also,
the specific function of plasma membrane being semi-permeable. In this lesson, we
will discuss another topic about cell: the cell cycle.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. identify the phases of cell cycle and their control points;

2. explain the sequence of events happen during the cell cycle; and
3. appreciate the importance of control system during the cell cycle.
 LESSON
In this lesson, the discussion is still about the cell but no longer about the
organelles in it but how it multiplies, repairs and somehow, malfunctions. Cells are
so tiny, but they serve a huge role in every organisms' body.
 The Cell Cycle (Zifan, 2016, figure 1)

This image above shows the events in the cell cycle: Interphase and Mitotic
phase. Each of the mentioned phases have substages and it will be discussed in this
chapter.

INTERPHASE

Interphase is the longest event in the cell cycle, specifically in the S phase
where the DNA must be copied. The growth of the cell physically, duplication of the
organelles, packing enough nutrients for the new daughter cells, are some of the
important events in this phase. It has three (3) substages namely: First Gap,
Synthesis phase and Second Gap.

First Gap - also known as G1 phase. It is in this phase where the cell is quite active
at biochemical level. The cell grows larger, duplicates the organelles, and makes the
molecular building blocks needed for the succeeding steps.

Synthesis phase - or the S phase. As mentioned above, this phase takes a lot of time
because of the complexity of replicating the genetic material. And from the name
implies, this is where the DNA replication occurs. Duplication of centrosomes
happens here as well as it is needed in the separation of chromosomes in M phase.

Second Gap - known as the G2 phase. In this stage, the cell grows continuously, fills
up the loss energy during the S phase, making more proteins, continuously
duplicating the organelles and completing the preparations for the mitotic phase.

In summary, interphase is all about the preparation of the cell for the
successful cell division. If anything goes wrong during the process, we don't have to
worry as they have a built-in control system that could either halt the cycle, if the
problem can't be solved or repair it so that the cell can continue to divide.
 CELL CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM

It’s amazing how cells know when to divide, when to stop the division or
when to synthesize. It is well orchestrated because of the timing and sequence of
events. You have learned in the previous lessons that the cell has different
organelles, chemicals and other components that serve a specific role inside.
Among these is a set of molecules that triggers and coordinates important events in
the cell cycle -- they are the cell cycle control system. This control system is also
responsible in the regulation of certain checkpoints in the cell cycle.

Why is there a need for checkpoints? What does it do? From the name itself,
it implies that this area is where stop and go-ahead signals happen. This is where
the continuity of the cycle depends; if it will be paused to wait, if it will be stopped
at all or if it will go through the next step. In animal cells, different signals are found
during the cycle since they have their own built-in stop signals that cease the cell
cycle at the checkpoints until it receives a go-ahead signal from the report of other
signaling molecules.

There are three (3) major checkpoints during the cell cycle and they are
found in G1, G2 and M phases. Let's discuss each checkpoint.

The Cell Cycle with Checkpoints (n.a., 2016, figure 2)

The first checkpoint in the cell cycle is found on the latter events of the First
Gap. This checkpoint is also called the Restriction point. This is where they ensure
that the cell size is large enough to divide, and to check if the nutrients and proteins
reserves are enough for the daughter cells.

What would happen if the size is too small or if it has reserve enough only for
itself? Then, it would go to G0 or the Gap 0. Gap 0 is also called as the resting phase
where cells that would not undergo cell division rest and could either wait for a signal
for them to divide or just stay there to preserve its physiologic function.

If the cell has all the requirements, then it can proceed with the next stage
which is the synthesis phase.
 The next checkpoint happens in the Second Gap. This event ensures that the
DNA have been accurately replicated without mistake or damage. If it detects a
problem, the cell will either complete the replication or repair the damaged
DNA. When they see no issue, then the cell will proceed to the nuclear division.

The last checkpoint is the Metaphase checkpoint where it ensures that the
chromosomes are attached to the spindle microtubules. When there is loose
connection on the spindle microtubule, it will stop the process. Why? The
succeeding stage, anaphase, is irreversible, which will result to halted process of
the cycle if problem on this checkpoint arises. However, if the chromosomes are
firmly attached to mitotic spindle, the cell will proceed to the next stage, the
telophase stage.

Those are the reasons why cells take a lot of time in preparing. Cells allot
time to repair or complete the specific event just to make sure that the whole cell
cycle will be perfectly executed.

Who are responsible in these checkpoints?

In cell cycle, we should not just focus on the phases and processes but let us
also look what's behind these successful events. The control system of the cell cycle
is very vital as it is responsible in the success of the whole cycle. These control
systems include the checkpoints, the cyclins, the cyclin-dependent kinases and p53.
We already know what happens to checkpoints, but what triggers it? This is where
these two main families of proteins come in: cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinases.
These two proteins send signals to the cell when it is ready to go on the next step.
Another factor is also visible in the control system and serve a major role, it’s the
p53 or also known as the tumor suppressor gene. Let us discover more of their
roles.

p53 (Tumor Suppressor Gene)

From the name itself, this gene is responsible in suppressing tumors. Some
say that it is “the guardian of the genome” since it prevents gene mutation
(Bioinformatics n.d). How does this gene work? In normal cell cycle, p53 level is low
but damage in DNA and other stress signals cause it to increase. p53 serves three
main functions such as growth arrest, DNA repair and apoptosis (cell death).

If there is a damage in DNA (might be caused by heat, radiation or chemicals),

the cell division would stop and the normal p53 would trigger enzymes to repair the
damaged DNA. Once the DNA is repaired, the p53 would allow the cell division to
continue. However, if the damage is beyond repair, p53 would trigger the destruction
of the cell (apoptosis). If the p53 failed to these functions, there would arise the
cancer cells.

Kinases

Let us get to know first the kinases. Kinases are enzymes that combine
phosphate groups to other molecules like sugars and proteins. This reaction may
cause the molecules to either become active or inactive. In this module, kinases
serve a major role in the control system as regulators. With the help of a cyclin (one
of the most important core cell cycle regulators) the kinase can turn into an active
enzyme that can modify target proteins.

The Cell Cycle with cyclins and Cdks (CNX OpenStax, 2016, figure 3)

Cyclins and Cyclin-Dependent Kinases

Let us now discuss more about the biological regulators of the cell cycle.
Keep in mind that controlling the cell cycle is necessary for a lot of reasons. One is,
if not done properly, a cell would continuously divide though it is not needed (i.e.
cancer cells. As mentioned above, there are proteins that interact to regulate the
cell cycle: cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases.

Cyclins

Cyclins are called such because they undergo a constant cycle of synthesis
and degradation during cell division. It serves an activating protein that bind to a
kinase to form Cdk complex. When the time comes that it detaches to the Cdk
complex (which happens during anaphase), the kinase will go inactive, but still
found around the cell, and will wait for another cyclin to bind.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinases

Cdks are kinases which either activates or deactivates another protein

through phosphorylating them. It gives the ‘stop’ and ‘go’ signal at the Gap 1 and
Gap 2 checkpoints.
 R E F E R E N CE S
n/a, OpenStax. Cell Cycle with Checkpoints. May 18, 2016. Photograph. Wikimedia
Commons. Wikimedia Commons.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.File:Cell_Cycle_With_Cyclins_and_Checkpoints
.jpg.

n/a, Zephyris. Schematic Presentation of the Cell Cycle. January 25, 2020.
Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.File:Cell_Cycle_2.svg.

CNX OpenStax. Biology. May 27, 2016. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikimedia Commons.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.File:Figure_10_03_01.jpg.

Reece, Jane B., Lisa A. Urry, Michael L Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V.
Minorsky, and Robert B. Jackson. “The Cell.” Essay. In Campbell
Biology, 9th ed., 228–45. Boston, CA: Benjamin Cummings / Pearson,
2011.

Visconti, Roberta, Rosa Della Monica, and Domenico Grieco. “Cell Cycle Checkpoint
in Cancer: a Therapeutically Targetable Double-Edged Sword.” Journal of
Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 35, no. 1 (September 27,
2016): 153–53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-016-0433-9.

Zifan, Ali. A Diagram of Mitosis Stages. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. Creative

Commons Attributions, June 26, 2016. Wikimedia Commons.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.File:Mitosis_Stages.svg.