Cellular Reproduction

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to cellular reproduction.

Cellular Reproduction

The process by which cells reproduce, leading to the formation of new cells and organisms.

Asexual Reproduction

A type of reproduction that does not involve sperm or egg; cells divide to form new cells.

Mitosis

The phase of the cell cycle where the nucleus divides, creating two identical daughter nuclei.

Chromosome

A structure made of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information.

Chromatin

The less condensed form of DNA, appearing as thin threads in the nucleus.

Sister Chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome, joined together at the centromere.

Cytokinesis

The process that divides the cytoplasm of a parent cell into two daughter cells after mitosis.

G₁ Checkpoint

The point in the cell cycle where the cell decides to divide or enter a resting state (G₀).

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that occurs when a cell is damaged beyond repair.

Proto-oncogenes

Genes that promote cell division and inhibit apoptosis; when mutated, they become oncogenes.

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes that inhibit cell division and promote apoptosis, preventing tumor formation.

Cancer

A disease characterized by uncontrolled cell division, leading to the formation of tumors.

Cytokinesis in Animal Cells

Occurs through the formation of a cleavage furrow, leading to the separation of daughter cells.

Cytokinesis in Plant Cells

Involves the formation of a cell plate that develops into a new cell wall between daughter cells.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Regulatory pathways within the cell cycle that ensure each stage is completed accurately before the next begins.

Contact Inhibition

The process by which cells stop dividing when they come into contact with neighboring cells.

Telomeres

Repeated DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division, influencing aging and cell death.

Metastasis

The spread of cancerous cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body.

True or false- is DNA replicated before mitosis begins

True