Official Guide to MCAt: Mitosis & Germ Cells

[SaintJude]

So germ cells undergo mitosis & meiosis in gonads?

AAMC says:
Testes and ovaries contain germ cells that divide by mitosis: one daughter cells remains a germ cell and the other differentiates into a gamete. The spermatogonia divide by mitosis, providing cells for gametogenesis while also maintaining the germ cell population. The cells that are destined to become spermatozoa divide twice more by mitosis before undergoing meiosis and packaging to become mature spermotozoa [ in epididymis, right? ]

Are germ cells the only cells in our body that both undergo mitosis and meiosis?

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[MedPR]

So germ cells undergo mitosis & meiosis in gonads?

AAMC says:
Testes and ovaries contain germ cells that divide by mitosis: one daughter cells remains a germ cell and the other differentiates into a gamete. The spermatogonia divide by mitosis, providing cells for gametogenesis while also maintaining the germ cell population. The cells that are destined to become spermatozoa divide twice more by mitosis before undergoing meiosis and packaging to become mature spermotozoa [ in epididymis, right? ]

Are germ cells the only cells in our body that both undergo mitosis and meiosis?

Yes, and yes. Germ cells are the only cells that undergo meiosis, so they can be the only ones that undergo meiosis and mitosis.

Consider what would happen in males if germ cells didn't undergo mitosis; you would make a ton of sperm one time and then have no germ cells left to make anymore sperm. I learned that one germ cell undergoes mitosis to produce two germ cells, then one of those undergoes meiosis and one undergoes mitosis and so on.

 

[SaintJude]

I learned that one germ cell undergoes mitosis to produce two germ cells, then one of those undergoes meiosis and one undergoes mitosis and so on.

Very interesting. And it's apparently a point the AAMC likes to focus on b/c they harped on it quite a bit. They said "it is easy to overlook that germ cells must first divide by mitosis in order to replenish the germ cell population while also providing cells than can differentiate into gametes. " Easy to overlook indeed (Kaplan, cough )

 

[MedPR]

Very interesting. And it's apparently a point the AAMC likes to focus on b/c they harped on it quite a bit. They said "it is easy to overlook that germ cells must first divide by mitosis in order to replenish the germ cell population while also providing cells than can differentiate into gametes. " Easy to overlook indeed (Kaplan, cough )

I don't think it was in EK either.

 

[pm1]

I don't think it was in EK either.

It was in TPR 👍

 

[SH3]

Yes, and yes. Germ cells are the only cells that undergo meiosis, so they can be the only ones that undergo meiosis and mitosis.

Consider what would happen in males if germ cells didn't undergo mitosis; you would make a ton of sperm one time and then have no germ cells left to make anymore sperm. I learned that one germ cell undergoes mitosis to produce two germ cells, then one of those undergoes meiosis and one undergoes mitosis and so on.

The same concept relates to stem cells. Some students often overlook the fact that one stem cell from a previous mitosis remains a stem cell while the other will become a differentiated cell. While there isn't meiosis in stem cells, there is the same concept of only one cell undergoing a further process, in this case, differentiation.

Realize this is a side point but thought I would comment just to bring up a related concept.