Cell Cycle, Mitosis, & Regulation Vocab - CORE Acc. Biology 9

cell cycle

pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division that occurs in a eukaryotic cell

mitosis

process by which a body cell divides its nucleus and contents

cytokinesis

process by which the cell cytoplasm divides

somatic cell

cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes

chromosome

long, continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes and regulatory information

histone

protein that organizes chromosomes and around which DNA wraps

chromatin

loose combination of DNA and proteins that is present during interphase

chromatid

one half of a duplicated chromosome

centromere

region of condensed chromosome in the center of chromatid where spindle fibers attach during meiosis and mitosis

telomere

repeating nucleotide at the ends of DNA molecules that do not form genes and help prevent the loss of genes

prophase

first phase of mitosis when chromatin condenses, the nuclear envelope breaks down, the nucleolus disappears, and the centrosomes and centrioles migrate to opposite sides of the cell

metaphase

second phase of mitosis when spindle fibers align the chromosomes along the cell equator

anaphase

third phase of mitosis during which chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite sides of the cell

telophase

last phase of mitosis when a complete set of identical chromosomes is positioned at each pole of the cell, the nuclear membranes start to form, the chromosomes begin to uncoil, and the spindle fibers disassemble

growth factor

broad group of proteins that stimulate cell division

apoptosis

programmed cell death that takes place when internal or external signals turn on genes to produce self-destructive enzymes

cancer

common name for a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division

benign

having no dangerous effect on health, especially referring to an abnormal growth of cells that are not cancerous

malignant

cancerous tumor in which cells break away and spread to other parts of the body, causing harm to the organism’s health

metastasize

to spread by transferring a disease-causing agent from the site of the disease to other parts of the body