You have been selected to take part in a highly classified mission. If you choose to accept, you shall be given a set of tools, essential for the completion of the mission. They will become available to you at certain points of your journey, allowing you to ease past obstacles that would have otherwise been impossible to pass, leading to the failure of your mission.
[[Accept - It would be an honor to take part in such a mission. Where do I start?]]
[[No way - I am denying a once in a life time experience. An opportunity I will never be presented with again. I understand that this will lead to a life of constant wondering as to why I turned down a chance to explore something new. I will never know what I am missing out on.]]Thank you for joining us.
Before continuing on, we must test your knowledge to ensure that your mind is well prepared for what you will encounter during the course of your journey.
[[Ok, I'm ready.]]Your loss.Here, your mind will be put to the test. In front of you, you see 3 doors.
Door #1 is labled ''G1'', door #2 is labled ''S'', and door #3 is labled ''G2''.
[[Open door labelled G1]]
[[Open door labelled S]]
[[Open door labelled G2]]You open the door cautiously. Inside, you find a tall figure wearing buisness attire.
It turns to you, "Are you here to be tested?"
[[Yes]]
[[Run away]]"Ah, right this way." The figure leads you to a large white chair positioned in front of a monitor. "Take a seat."
You sit down and the monitor lights up, revealing a profesional looking person who immediatly starts speaking.
"Welcome to the G1 Phase. This is a phase in the cell cycle that is all about cell growth and development. We have found this out through countless studies and examinatio-"
The monitor shut off.
[[Leave the room]]
[[Wait for the figure to return]]
[[Hide under lab desk]]You run until you bump into the person you met at the start. You try to appologize but you get stopped. "Do you think I brought you here so you could roam the halls and potentially disrupt lab work that relies on accuracy? We are past deadlines for lab completion as it is. We will not tolerate this nonesense. Now, I sent you to the knowledge testing rooms so we could evaluate you. Obviously you still have a lot to learn. Get back to ''G1'' and begin your testing."
[[Run back]][[Open door labelled G1]]You walk to the door labelled ''S''.
As you lay your hand on the door handle it shocks you, making you jump back.
A monitor above the door clicks on and a cloaked figure shows up on the screen.
"You mustn't enter ''S'' until you have completed ''G1''. Open ''G1'' and you will not be greated with a shock."You walked towards the door labelled ''G2'', but before opening it, you saw a light trail of smoke seeping from the crack beneath the door. Puzzled, you decide to try a different door.You leave the room and, again, face the three doors.
[[Enter G1]]
[[Enter S]]
[[Enter G2]]The figure returns to the sight of you sitting by the black monitor.
"You broke it!"
Before you could protest the figure grabs you by the arm and presses a blinking red button on its watch, setting of sirens everyone. In a matter of seconds you became surrounded.
[[Next]]The figure comes back and sees that the monitor has shut off. Furious, the figure pulls a lever and a dull siren wails in the distance. Red lights start blinking all over the room.
When the figure is no longer in sight, you sprint to back to the door you entered from.
[[Leave the room]]The figure spots you, shouting, "There's the one that broke the machine!"
You are surrounded.
[[Next]]You open the door labelled ''S'' slowly. You let out a breath as you see a friendly looking figure standing inside.
"Hello there, are you here for the test?"
[[Yeah]]
[[Nah]]You walked towards the door labelled ''G2'', but before opening it, you saw a light trail of smoke seeping from the crack beneath the door. Puzzled, you decide to try a different door.There was no escape. You were thrown out of the building and banned from ever returning.
[[Mission failed]]Start over?
[[Ok]]
[[Nope]][[Play again]]Your loss."Good, come right this way and take a seat."
You sit down.
"I'm going to talk to you about the ''S'' Phase. This is the phase in the cell cycle where DNA replication takes place. This enables a cell to be duplicated without losing essential genetic information. Now head over to the ''G2'' door. When you finish up there go to the main labratory to recieve further instruction."
[[Go to G2]]Yes you are -_-
[[Yeah]]You go to the door labelled ''G2'' and notice nothing unusual about the door. Deciding its probably safe to enter, you open the door.
Inside you find yet another figure in buisness attire.
"Welcome. Are you here for the test?"
[[Yup]]
[[No]]"Okay, I was expecting you earlier so I must make this quick. This is the ''G2'' phase of the cell cycle. This phase is where the cell preps everything inside it for cell division. After the preparation is complete the cell can move on. Is this all making sense so far?"
You nod.
"Good, because this is where you come in. We don't know what happens next and we need you to help us find out. We've spent many days attempting to send our experts into the cycle but not one has made it passed the three phases we just told you about. We though it would be best to bring in a fresh mind who can think more clearly through the processes. I have to run, but I wish you the best of luck."
[[Go to the main labratory]]Without this training you will not be able to proceed.
Are you going to cooperate and hear the figure out?
[[Yup]]After lots of trial and error, heading down hallways, going through doors, and going on elevators, you finally found your way to the main labratory.
It is a large room containing numerous pieces of equipment and machinery.
You walk around, taking in the wonderful sight of a highly developed lab.
There is a tap on your shoulder. You turn around to see the person that recruited you for this mission in the first place.
"Finally, you made it. Took you long enough. Have you gotten through your training?"
You nod.
"Good. You shall now be tested. Recite back to me what you have learned."
[[In G1 phase the cell duplicates its DNA. In S phase the cell grows and develops. In G2 phase the cell prepares for division.]]
[[In G1 phase the cell grows and develops. In S phase the cell prepares for division. In G2 phase the cell divides.]]
[[In G1 phase the cell grows and develops. In S phase the cell duplicates its DNA. In G2 phase the cell prepares for division.]]"Wrong.""Wrong.""Correct. It's good to know you were paying attention. These phases are part of something we call ''Interphase''. This is what's happening when the cell isn't in the process of dividing. What we need you to figure out is what's happening when the cell ''is'' dividing. Your mission is to travel in a cell and help it divide."
[[Ok, what do I need to do?]]"See that machine over there?" The person points to a large, complicated looking machine in a far corner of the room. "That is a shrinking maching. We have cells ready to be tested within the machine. The machine will shrink you down so you are small enough to enter a cell and go through the process of cell division. Would you be willing to help with this?"
[[Definitely]]
[[Not a chance]]"Great, trust me you won't regret this. Now come over here and stand under this red light."
[[You hesitate.]]There goes the coolest opportunity you could've had."Just do it! Many many people have been through this process before you. If we didn't have this tested I would not be telling you to go there."
Reluctantly you step under the light.
The person immediately pushes a large button on the side of the machine and you hear a loud buzzing.
You begin shrinking and shrinking with no end.
You are now free falling. You quickly see two possible cells you could land in.
[[Lean to the left]]
[[Lean to the right]]You try to regain your senses.
As your eyes adjust, you begin to make out 4 large shapes, each consisting of 2 string-like forms attached to each other from one point.
These string-like forms are ''Chromosomes'' which carry the genetic information of a cell. They are connected by a point called the ''Centromere''.
''Chromosomes'' are made up of ''Chromatin''.
''Chromatin'' is made up of a ''Nucleosome'', which is a length of DNA coiled around a ''Histone'', a protein.
The attached ''Chromosomes'' are called ''Sister Chromatids'' because they are identical.
The more you examine the chromosomes the more they become visible.
As you become aware of your surroundings you realize that you, and the sister chromatids, are suspended in a nuclear envelope.
The sister chromatids must be set free. What do you do?
[[Pull them apart]]
[[Pop the nuclear envelope]]You pull the sister chromatids apart.
Cell division is unable to continue.
[[Game over]]You pop the nuclear envelope, freeing the sister chromatids.
You call this ''Prophase''.
The sister chromatids move on to line up at the equator of the cell.
You conclude that the sister chromatids could have lined up in any order. This is referred to as ''Independent Assortment''.
You must keep the chromatids in place, what do you do?
[[Press the activation button on the Centriole beside you]]
[[Hold the sister chromatids in place]]
[[Glue them together]][[Mission failed]]You press the button on the ''Centriole'' beside you. It sprays out ''Spindle Fibers'' which in turn attach to the sister chomatids by their centrioles, holding them at the center of the cell.
You call this ''Metaphase''.
You watch as the spindle fibers pull the sister chromatids apart and bring them to opposite ends of the cell.
You call this ''Anaphase''.
In order for the cell to split into two the chromosomes must once again be contained. What do you do?
[[Tie the chromosomes together with string]]
[[Form a nuclear envelope by blowing a bubble]]You try to hold the sister chromatids in place, but fail, due to their tendency to float around. Before you could change your plan, the cell dies.
[[Game over]]You try to glue the sister chromatids together, but the glue poisons the cell.
The cell dies.
[[Game over]]You wrap the chromosomes in string, but before you can finish the chromosomes on the other end of the cell float apart.
Cell division can not continue.
[[Game over]]You quickly blow a bubble around each group of chromosomes on each side of the cell.
Success! Now that the chromosomes are contained in a nuclear envelope, we can continue.
You call this ''Telophase''.
The cell is ready to be divided. What do you do?
[[Cut the cell in half]]
[[Pull the sides of the cell together]]
[[Eat a chromosome]]You chop the cell in half, allowing the contents of the cell to spill out.
The cell can no longer function.
[[Game over]]You grasp each side of the cell and pull them together slowly. As you do so, everything in the cell distributes evenly on either side.
The cell splits perfectly into two identical cells.
You call this ''Cytokinesis''.
Happy with your accomplishment you decide to give this whole process a name:
//''Mitosis''//
This process is a form of ''Asexual Reproduction'', and produces 2 genetically identical ''Diploid Cells''.
''Asexual Reproduction'' occurs in multicellular organisms. It enables a cell to divide quickly and efficiently.
Two complete sets of chromosomes are referred to as ''Diploid Cells''.
[[Back to the lab]]Now is not the time for a snack break!
And did you just eat a chromosome..?
[[Game over]]You try to regain your senses.
As your eyes adjust, you begin to make out 4 large shapes, each consisting of 2 string-like forms attached to eachother from one point.
These string-like forms are ''Chromosomes'' which carry the genetic information of a cell. They are connected by a point called the ''Centromere''.
''Chromosomes'' are made up of ''Chromatin''.
''Chromatin'' is made up of a ''Nucleosome'', which is a length of DNA coiled around a ''Histone'', a protein.
The attached ''Chromosomes'' are called ''Sister Chromatids'' because they are identical.
The more you examine the chromosomes the more they become visible.
As you become aware of your surroundings you realize that you, and the sister chromatids, are suspended in a nuclear envelope.
The sister chromatids must be set free. What do you do?
[[Burn through nuclear envelope]]
[[Tap nuclear envelope]]You take out a lighter and flick it on, releasing flames within the cell.
You burn the nuclear envelope as well as every other vital organ in the cell.
The cell has been engulfed in flames and died.
[[Mission failed]]You gently tap the nuclear envelope, making it vanish.
The ''Sister Chromatids'' are set free, though they are not yet satisfied.
Help the chromatids trade sections so they are happier.
What do you do?
[[Touch a segment of one chromatid, then touch the equivalent segment in its pair]]
[[Measure and cut off a section of one chromatid, then cut off the equivalent section in its pair]]
[[Gently move two sections of the paired chromatids together]]What do you think this is? A game of Duck Duck Goose??
[[Mission failed]]You measure perfectly equal sections of each chromatid and try to trade them. The chromatids fail to accept the new sections.
You lost essential genetic information for the cell.
The cell can no long function.
[[Mission failed]]You move two sections of the paired chromatids together. As you do so, the two sections switch.
You see that this works so you continue to follow the same steps until parts of the chromotids are switched.
Since you have traded parts of the chromosomes we shall no call them pairs of ''Homologous Chromosomes''. These Homologous Chromosomes paired with their Homologous partner are referred to as a ''Tetrad''.
Success! You have managed to complete a process called ''Crossing-Over''.
You call this ''Prophase I''.
The Homologous Chromosomes align themselves at the equator of the cell. You conclude that the chromosomes could have lined up in any order. This is referred to as ''Independent Assortment''.
Keep the Chromosomes at the equator of the cell. What do you do?
[[Tape them together]]
[[Think fast!]]You pull out some tape and try suspending the chromosomes at the center of the cell by taping them to eachother.
You've introduced an unexpected element.
The cell is poisoned and can no longer function.
[[Mission failed]]There's a ''Centriole'' beside you. ''Spindle Fibers'' can be formed by using Centrioles.
They must be activated. What do you do?
[[Nudge them with your foot]]
[[Kick them]]You nudge each ''Centriole'' with your foot, making the ''Spindle Fibers'' shoot out and attach to the chromosomes.
You call this ''Metaphase I''.
You watch as the ''Spindle Fibers'' pull the chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell.
You call this ''Anaphase I''.
The chromosomes gather at each end and you must keep them together. What do you do?
[[Tie them together]]
[[Blow a bubble around them]]
[[Put them in a box]]Trust me, you really want to be gentle with this -_-
[[Nudge them with your foot]]You try to tie them together with rope. You tie them too tights and kill the chromosomes (//What have you done?//).
The cell dies along with the poor chromosomes. (//Maybe next time don't use rope//)
[[Mission failed]]You blow a bubble around each set of chromosomes, forming nuclear envelopes around them.
You call this ''Telophase I''.
Now that there are chromosomes on either side, the cell is ready to split.
What do you do?
[[Chop the cell in half]]
[[Pull its sides together]]
[[Leave the cell]]What makes you think you brought a box?
[[Blow a bubble around them]]You chop the cell in half, spilling its contents.
The cell has died.
[[Mission failed]]You slowly pull the sides of the cell together, and as you do this, the contents divide within the cell.
The cell splits into 2 ''Haploid'' cells. A ''Haploid'' cell is a cell with a single set of unpaired chromosomes.
You call this ''Cytokinesis''.
The cells don't seem quite finished yet. They want to divide a again.
There are now two cells, which one do you want to go to?
[[Cell #1]]
[[Cell #2]]How exactly did you plan to accomplish this? ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ
[[Pull its sides together]]In the cell, the chromosomes must be freed from the nuclear envelope.
What do you do?
[[Pop the envelope]]
[[Eat the nuclear envelope]]In the cell, the chromosomes must be freed from the nuclear envelope.
What do you do?
[[Pop the envelope]]
[[Eat the nuclear envelope]]You pop the nuclear envelope and the chromosomes are free. This time the chromosomes //do not// go through the process of ''Crossing-Over''.
Instead they continue the process exactly the same as the first time.
Going through this proccess the second time around, you called each phase:
''Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II and Cytokinesis''.
At the end of these phases the ''2 Haploid cells'' split into ''4 Haploid cells'', finishing the process.
Joyful after your success, you name this whole process ''//Meiosis//''.
This cell division is a form of ''Sexual Reproduction''.
''Sexual Reproduction'' happens with the fusion of two different parent cells.
Two ''Gametes'' come together to form a Zygote, which is now considered ''Fertilized''.
''Sexual Reproduction'' produces offspring that inherit some of their genetic information from each parent, allowing for genetic diversity.
[[Back to the lab]]Now is not the time for taste testing! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
You've done this before. Do what you did last time.
[[Pop the envelope]]"You're back!" You are greated excitedly. "So?"
[[Report your findings]]"You did it! Nobody has ever been able to uncover the mystery of cell division. Congratulations! Since you were able to work through these processes I would like to present you with the option of joining my research team."
[[Accept - Thank you!]]
[[Decline]]Years went by and new discoveries were made.
As it turned out, the previous research team had only been researching animal cells.
After days and days of individual study in your basement, you came to work and presented your findings on the process of ''Cytokinesis''.
Here is a passage from your notebook:
//
I have spent countless nights observing the differences between animal cells and plant cells. Here are my findings:
In Animal Cells -
Cytokinesis happens when the cell membrane is drawn inwards until the cytoplasm is pinched into two equal parts.
Animal cells do not have a cell wall, therefore allowing them to be pinched together easily.
In Plant Cells -
Cytokinesis happens when a cell plate gradually develops into cell membranes that separate the cell into two daughter cells. A cell wall forms in between the two newly developed membranes, completing the process.
Plant cells have a cell wall, which is not as flexible as a cell membrane, so a new membrane must first form in the middle of the cell in order for it to split.//
[[>]]One does not simply decline an opportunity to join a research team.
(//Do it! It's for science!//)
[[Accept - Thank you!]](At this point you may have only completed one of two possible endings. To make another discovery play again. //Hint: Lean to the opposite direction!//)
[[Lean to the left]]
//or//
[[Lean to the right]]
//or//
[[Finish]]Congratulations!
You have completed ''//Mission: Cell Division//''
[[Play again]]