Cell Division and Cell Cycle Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, scientists, cell cycle stages, mitotic phases, and meiotic prophase sub-stages from the lecture transcript.

Cell division

A process in which a single parent cell divides into two or four daughter cells that closely resemble the parent cell in structure and function.

Karyokinesis

The division of the cell nucleus during cell division, derived from the Greek word karyo (nucleus) and kinesis (movement or division).

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm during cell division, which in animal cells involves plasma membrane invagination forming a furrow that deepens centripetally.

Prevost and Dumas (1824)

The scientists who first observed cell division in frog zygotes in the year 1824.

Howard and Pelc (1953 A.D.)

The scientists who provided the details of the cell cycle sequence in 1953 A.D.

Cell cycle

The sequence of events by which a cell duplicates its genome, synthesizes other cell constituents, and eventually divides into two daughter cells.

Interphase

The non-dividing or preparatory phase between two successive cell divisions, which is metabolically the most active and longest phase of the cell cycle.

S phase (Synthesis phase)

The stage of interphase where DNA replication and histone protein synthesis take place, resulting in each chromosome comprising two chromatids.

$G_2$ phase (Gap II)

The phase between S phase and M phase involving final cell growth, duplication of centrioles, and synthesis of tubulin proteins necessary for spindle formation and chromosome condensation.

Mitosis

Indirect or equational cell division occurring in somatic cells, where the chromosome number in daughter cells remains identical to that of the parent cell.

Mitocyte

A somatic cell that undergoes mitotic cell division.

Prophase

The first and longest phase of karyokinesis following interphase, derived from Greek pro (first) and phase (stage).

Late prophase

The final substage of prophase in which the nucleolus disappears, the nuclear membrane disintegrates, and spindle fibers begin to appear.

Diplotene

The meiotic stage marked by the dissolution of the synaptonemal complex and the slight separation of homologous chromosomes except at chiasmata.

Chiasmata

Points of attachment between non-sister chromatids of bivalents where crossing over has occurred.

Terminalization

The movement of chiasmata towards the ends of chromosomes until they disappear, occurring during diakinesis.

Diakinesis

The final stage of meiotic prophase I where terminalization completes, the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear, and spindle fibers attach to centromeres.