Meiosis Vocab

For bio william

Anaphase

______ is the stage of mitosis/meiosis where the sister chromatids separate and are pulled towards opposite poles of the cell by the spindle fibers.

Chromosome

A __________ is a long, coiled-up strand of DNA that contains genes and other genetic information.

Throughout most of a cell’s life cycle, the DNA is unraveled. The DNA only condenses into ___________ during cell division.

Crossover

a process in which homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material.

________ occurs during the prophase I stage of meiosis. 

Cytokinesis

a stage during mitosis or meiosis where the cytoplasm is divided, creating two daughter cells from one parent cell.

Diploid

a cell containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

The body, or somatic, cells of an organism (all cells other than the germ cells) are _________.

DNA

______ is a molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and function of all living organisms. It is composed of nucleotides that are arranged in a double helix structure.

Dominant

a trait that is always expressed when it is present.

_______ alleles are usually represented by capital letters, such as F

Gamete

a mature, haploid reproductive cell that is created as a result of meiosis.

* Male cells that undergo meiosis produce _______ called sperm cells.
* Female cells that undergo meiosis produce polar bodies and ________ called egg cells (ova)

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism

The __________ of an organism refers to its complete set of inherited genes that determine its physical and behavioral traits.

Germ cell

a sexual reproductive cell that has the potential to develop into gametes.

______ cells include gametes as well as the diploid cells that divide to produce gametes

Haploid

a cell containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes. 

_______ cells contain half the number of chromosomes as diploid cells. The gametes (sperm and egg cells) of an organism are ______.

Homologous chromosomes

a pair of chromosomes that are similar in length as well as gene and centromere position

Interphase

a phase in a cell’s life cycle where it grows, replicates DNA, and prepares for cell division

Meiosis

a type of cell division in which a parent cell divides twice, producing four daughter cells. 

During _______, DNA is replicated only once, resulting in four daughter cells with half the amount of genetic material (haploid) as the parent (diploid)

Metaphase

a stage during mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate and chromosomes attach to spindle fibers

Mitosis

a type of cell division in which a parent cell divides once, producing two daughter cells. 

During _______, the DNA is replicated once, resulting in two daughter cells that have exact copies of the parent cell’s DNA

Ovum

(egg cell) – a female germ cell involved in reproduction. 

An _____ can grow into an organism after it is fertilized by a sperm cell.

Phenotype

the physical appearance of an organism.

Organisms with different genotypes can have the same __________. For example, an RR fruit fly and an Rr fruit fly both will have red eyes.

Prophase

a stage during mitosis and meiosis in which the nuclear envelope breaks down, the chromosomes condense, and centrosomes move to opposite poles of the cell.

Recessive

a trait that is not expressed when the dominant allele is present.

__________ alleles are usually represented by lowercase letters, such as f

Sister chromatids

two identical strands of DNA in a chromosome connected by a centromere

Sperm cell

a male germ cell involved in reproduction.

* Immature spermatids develop into ______ cells. 
* _______ cells can fertilize egg cells during reproduction

Telophase

a stage during mitosis and meiosis in which the DNA unwinds and the nuclear envelope reforms around the chromosomes or chromatids

Zygote

a fertilized cell that forms from the fusion of an egg cell and a sperm cell