Papers of Cell Division Stages Enhance Student Understanding of Mitosis, Meiosis, and Ploidy

 

Valerie Schawaroch

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2019, Volume 40

Abstract

Students are given a hands-on exercise (color coded pieces of paper) to explore and discover the logical progression of the eukaryotic cell divisions of mitosis and meiosis. Students work through the exercise trying to convince one another as to the correct order of the events. The similarities (colors) and differences (regular versus bold type) reinforces the similarities and difference between the stages in mitosis and meiosis. Subsequent class discussion ensures student understanding of the stages and uses this as a foundation for discussing these processes in haploid and diploid cells and plant versus animal cells. These concepts are further explored and reinforced through a pipe cleaner chromosome group project. The supplied materials include templates for printing the colored papers, detailed student exercises and project directions with answer keys and teaching instructions. Similar exercises can be created for topics where students need to learn a series of events or items.

Keywords:  genetics, meiosis, mitosis, cell division

The Ohio State University (2018)