Freshman Biology Unit 3

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Mitosis(aka ___ _______)

A process where a single cell divides into 2 identical daughter cells.

Metastasis

Process in which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body.

Cancer

The disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Interphase

The resting phase between successive mitotic divisions of a cell.

Cytokinesis

The division of cytoplasm. Produces two daughter cells.

Cell Cycle

The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication of its DNA to produce two daughter cells.

Contact inhibition

A regulatory mechanism that functions to keep cells growing into a layer one cell thick (monolayer).

Cyclins

The proteins associated with the cycle of cell division that are thought to initiate certain processes of mitosis.

Regulators

The core control system of cell cycle. proteins (ex. cyclins) enzymes

Inhibitors

A substance used to block the cell division cycle.

Replication

Process of copying DNA prior to cell division.

Stem Cells

Undifferentiated cells that can develop into differentiated cells (like muscle cells or bone cells).

Differentiation

The process where a cell changes from one cell type to another and becomes specialized.

Sexual Reproduction

The fusion of 2 sex cells (one from each parent) producing offspring that inherit genetic information from both parents.

Asexual Reproduction

A type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism and are genetically identical to the parent.

Chromosomes

A molecule carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

A molecule that contains the instructions an organism needs to develop, live and reproduce.

Metabolism

the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials.

Cell Theory

States that all living things are composed of cells; that cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things; and that new cells are produced from existing cells