9th grade · Science · Unit 1 of 10
Cells from Cells
DNA, mitosis and growth
What your child practices
How cells copy their DNA and divide by mitosis, the stages in order, why cells divide for growth and healing, and what can go wrong when cell growth isn't controlled.
Alaska content standards learning standard: HS-LS1-4 · cell division and growth
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Before dividing, a cell copies its DNA so each new cell gets a full set.
- Mitosis stages in order: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.
- Cells divide for growth and healing. Uncontrolled division can cause cancer.
Example: In which stage do the chromosomes line up in the middle? Prophase: chromosomes condense. Next they line up in the middle: metaphase. Answer: metaphase
Cells from Cells in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 1 of 10 in 9th grade Science, before Reproduction.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Before a cell divides, the DNA is…
- removed from the cell
- destroyed
- split into random pieces
- copied, so each new cell gets a full set
copied, so each new cell gets a full set
Hint: DNA replication ensures each daughter cell receives complete instructions.
Question 2
Most of a cell's life is spent in…
- telophase
- mitosis
- interphase
- anaphase
interphase
Hint: Interphase is when the cell grows, does its job and copies its DNA.
Question 3
How are plant cells different in the last stage of cell division?
- They skip it.
- They explode.
- They build a new cell plate between the two cells.
- They make a new nucleus only.
They build a new cell plate between the two cells.
Hint: Plant cells have rigid walls, so a cell plate forms and becomes the new wall.
Question 4
Where do new cells come from?
- From existing cells dividing
- From sunlight
- From water alone
- From non-living matter
From existing cells dividing
Hint: “Cells are derived from cells,” as the cell theory says.
Question 5
What is mitosis?
- The death of a cell
- Cell division that makes four different cells
- The joining of two cells
- Cell division that makes two identical daughter cells
Cell division that makes two identical daughter cells
Hint: In mitosis, one cell's nucleus divides, making two genetically identical cells.
Question 6
Why do cells divide?
- To get smaller
- To grow, replace old cells and repair damage
- To stop working
- To make non-living matter
To grow, replace old cells and repair damage
Hint: Cell division lets organisms grow and heal.