Skip to content
PlayOwl

Science · Grade 9

Cell Division and Growth

Learners model the cell cycle and mitosis, track chromosome and DNA numbers through each stage, and estimate how long each phase lasts from root-tip counts. They explain how checkpoints and control genes keep division in check and how cancer arises when that control is lost, then explore how differentiation and stem cells turn one fertilised egg into many specialised cell types, including the scientific and ethical questions stem cell research raises.

  • 5 lessons
  • About 120 minutes
  • Cell division and growth check: 11 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, label a picture, match pairs and type a number
Try it now (no account) One of the five free starter courses Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Describe the phases of the cell cycle and use mitotic index data to estimate the proportion and duration of each phase.
  • Sequence the stages of mitosis and cytokinesis and track the numbers of chromosomes and DNA molecules (chromatids) through the cycle.
  • Explain how checkpoints, growth signals and control genes regulate the cell cycle, and how accumulated mutations can lead to cancer.
  • Explain how differentiation produces specialised cells from cells with identical DNA, compare embryonic, adult, induced and plant stem cells, and separate scientific claims from value judgements about their use.

Lessons

  1. Why cells divide: the cell cycle 8 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  2. Mitosis step by step 9 steps6 practiceabout 26 min
  3. Measuring division: the mitotic index 8 steps5 practiceabout 22 min
  4. Checkpoints, control and cancer 9 steps5 practiceabout 26 min
  5. Differentiation and stem cells 8 steps5 practiceabout 24 min
  6. Cell division and growth check 11 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 9th grade science

Guide for grown-ups