Research of misconception Cell Division- Mitosis

Group members:SHARIFAH ROQAIYAH D20091034851NGANG HUEY CHI D20091034861YEE HON KIT D20091034822YEE CHIN TIEN D20091034824

Many eukaryotes have two copies of each type of chromosome in their nuclei, so their chromosome complement is said to be diploid. Chromosomes are the genetic units divided by mitosis. Each chromosome is duplicated into two exact copies called sister chromatids during S stages in interphase. Mitosis separates the sister chromatids and places one in each of the two daughter nuclei produced by the division.

The equal distribution of daughter chromosomes to each of the two cells that result from cell division is chromosome segregation.

Scientific Concept

M phase

G1 phase

S phase

G2 phase

Mitotic cell cycle basically

comprised of 4 phases:

Ob

jec

tive Purpose

• This study aims to investigate the effect of drawing method of determining university students’ misconceptions concerning cell division –mitotic cell cycle.

To identify biology student teachers’ misconceptions of cell divisions using drawingsand interviews which they possess about the cell division processes and both the content and scope of these misconceptions.

Drawing

Simple research

instruments

Taps holistic

understanding

An alternative form of expressio

n

Can be completed

quickly, easily and

in an enjoyable

way.

Research Background

1. A total of 124 student teachers, who were

studying to become secondary biology teachers

at the Faculty of Education in Selcuk University

in Turkey.

2. Participants previously had studied cell division

in cytology, genetics, and molecular biology, as

a school subject during various semesters.

Methods

• Biology student teachers’ understanding of the

chromosomes mitosis was examined by two different

methods not mutually exclusive.

• The first method is method of drawing. The

participants were informed about the drawing method

before this application and some practices were

applied about this method.

• The participating students were asked to draw

process of mitosis in a cell on a blank piece of A4-sized

paper.

Cont.• These drawings are analyzed and categorized into

model types corresponding to five levels of

understanding.

1. No drawing

2. Non-representational drawings,

3. Drawings with misconceptions,

4. Partial drawings

5. Comprehensive representation drawings.

Cont.

The second method to examine the university

student’s knowledge is individual interviews.

After the drawings were evaluated, individual

interviews were conducted about the detailed subjects

with 15 randomly chosen who demonstrated

misconceptions.

The purpose was to check the validity of the

interpretation of the drawings. In the interview, these students were asked to respond

to questions like: › What are chromosomes and sister chromatids?› How do the chromosomes act during mitosis?

Research about

misconception of

cell division -mitosis

Examined by two different methods

Method of

drawing, conducte

d with two

phases.

2nd phase,

the question “Draw

process of

mitosis in a cell”

was asked

Analysis of

drawings and

categorized into model types

corresponding to

five levels of understa

nding

1)No drawing 2) Non-

representational

drawings 3)

Drawings with

misconceptions

4)Partial drawings

5) Comprehe

nsive representa

tion drawings

Second method -individua

l intervie

ws.

Conducted about

the detailed subjects with 15 randomly chosen

who demonst

rated misconceptions.

Figure 1. Example of level 2 (non-representational drawing).

Figure 2. Example of level 3 (drawing with misconception).

Figure 3. Examples of level 4 (partial drawing).

Figure 4. Examples of level 5 (comprehensive representation drawing).

Misconception VS

Scientific Idea

Misconception

Scientific Idea

1. Interphase is the resting phase of mitosis.

2. The chromosome number is doubled in the prophase of mitosis and halved in the anaphase of mitosis.

3. In mitosis, homologous chromosomes separate in the anaphase.

4. Sister chromatids do not separate in mitosis.

5. The number of chromosomes is halved after mitosis.

6. The number of chromosomes is doubled after mitosis.

1. Interphase is the first stage in mitotic cell cycle in which the cell grows and replicates its DNA before undergoing mitosis (M phase) and cytokinesis.

2. In the anaphase of mitosis, the spindle separates the two sister chromatids(not chromosome) of each chromosome and moves them to opposite spinde poles.

3. <same as 2>4. <same as 2>5. After mitosis, two daughter cells

are genetic duplicates of the parental cell that entered mitotic division are produced.

6. <same as 5>

Figure 8. A drawing of misconception of “interphase is the resting phase of the mitosis”.

Discussion & Conclusion

Cont. The findings gained from the drawings and the interviews show that a majority of the students cannot establish accurate relationships in mitotic cell cycle and cell division.

The existence of these misconceptions, despite the fact students are educated with various education techniques at the university, shown that such misconceptions are extremely resistant against change.

Cont. Effective teaching methods must be used to eliminate or minimize these misconceptions that the university students possess.

Other techniques Group discussion POE (Predict Observe Explain) Definition Conceptual maps

Summary of drawing &

interview technique1. Drawing activities in conjunction with

individual interviews have been successfully used to explore students’ ideas about abstract concepts, e.g. ’mitosis’.

2. Drawing method in conjunction with interviews have been successfully used to diagnose student’s conceptual understandings and misconceptions about abstract concepts, e.g. ‘cell division- mitotic’.

References Misconceptions of cell division

held by student teachers in biology: A drawing analysis

Scientific Research and Essay Vol. 5 (2), pp. 235-247, 18 January, 2010Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SREISSN 1992-2248 © 2010 Academic Journals