cellular reproduction

02/12/2023

anaphase

the third stage of mitosis when the centromeres divide and the sister chromatids separate

cell cycle

the process that somatic cells go through in order to grow and to reproduce

centrioles

cylindrically shaped cell organelles found in animal cells that aid in forming a spindle during mitosis

centromere

a condensed region where sister chromatids are held together

chromatin

the threadlike material made of DNA and proteins that condense to form chromosomes

cytokinesis

the last part of the cell cycle when the cytoplasm divides to form two daughter cells

daughter cell

a cell formed by the division of another cell

interphase

the longest part of a cell cycle when the cell grows and develops, replicates its DNA< and makes proteins and RNA to prepare for cell division

metaphase

the second stage of mitosis when the chromatids line up along the midline of the nucleus

microtubules

hollow rod-like structures that form a spindle during mitosis and aid in moving sister chromatids to opposite sides of the dividing cell

mitosis

the part of the cell cycle when the nucleus divides

prophase

the first stage of mitosis when chromatin condenses and can be seen

replicate

to make an exact copy of; for example, chromosomes replicate in the nucleus before a cell divides

sister chromatids

the two identical copies of a chromosomes that are attached by a centromere

somatic cells

all the cells in the body except the sex cells (gametes); the cells that make up tissues and organs

telophase

the last phase of mitosis when new nuclear membranes are formed around each set of chromosomes

apoptosis

programmed cell death

cancer

a disorder of the cell cycle that results in uncontrolled cell division and the formation of malignant (spreading) tumors

carcinogen

any substance that is directly involved in causing cancer; includes certain chemicals, UV radiation, and even certain viruses

checkpoint

a control point in the cell cycle where stop signals can regulate the cell cycle

gene

a section of DNA that gives a cell instructions for making a protein

metastasis

the process of abnormal cancer cell breaking away from their home tissues and spreading to other parts of the body and forming new masses

mutation

a permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene

oncogene

a mutated gene that has teh potential to cause cancer

tumor

a mass of cells that is growing out of control

asexual reproduction

type of reproduction that occurs when only one parent organism reproduces itself to form a genetically identical offspring

binary fission

a type of asexual reproduction that occurs when a single-celled organism reproduces itself by replicating its DNA and then dividing

budding

a type of asexual reproduction that occurs when a group of cells grows on parent organism and eventually detaches to become a separate organism

fragmentation

a type of asexual reproduction in which a small or broken piece from an organism develops into a new adult organism

offspring

children; organisms produced or “born” to one of two parent organisms

pollination

in plants, the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ to the female reproductive organ

regeneration

the regrowing of a missing body part

reproduction

the production of offspring from one or two parent organisms

vegetative propagation

a type of asexual reproduction that occurs when a new plant grows from a part of the parent plant

autosomes

the pairs of chromosomes that do not include the one pair of sex chromosomes and that do not determine gender

crossing over

the exchange of DNA between paired homologous chromosomes during meiosis

diploid cells

somatic cells produced through the process of mitosis that contain the full number of chromosomes for that organism; have a 2n number of chromosomes

genetic variation

differences in the combination of genes passed from one generation to another

haploid cells

sex cells produced through the process of meiosis that contain half the number of chromosomes for that organism; have an n number of chromosomes

homologous chromosomes

the two chromosomes that make up each pair of human somatic cells (23 pairs for a total of 46 chromosomes in humans)

karyotypes

a type of chromosomal analysis that photographs and arranges chromosomes so that they can be visually inspected for defects

meiosis

the process that forms the sex cells called gametes (ova and sperm)

sex cells (or gametes)

the cells other than somatic cells that are formed through a process called meiosis

sex chromosomes

the pair of chromosomes that determines gender

tetrad

homologous chromosomes paired together side by side during meiosis

cellular differentiation

process that creates different types of specialized cells

conjugation

a type of sexual reproduction in which two parent organisms, usually bacteria exchange genetic material; no offspring are produced but new combinations of genes are formed that can then be passed to future offspring

fertilization

the union of a male and a female gamete during sexual reproduction

gamete

sex cell; sperm or egg cell

oogenesis

the production of ova (or eggs)

ova

egg cells (or female gametes)

polar body

a cell produced during oogenesis that does not form a mature egg cell

pollination

in plants, the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ to the female reproductive organ

sexual reproduction

type of reproduction that usually requires two parents to produce offspring that are not genetically identical to either parent

spermatozoa

sperm cells (or male gametes)

stem cells

undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into other types of specialized cells