Topic 6 - Cell cycle

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key terms related to the cell cycle, including genome organization, chromosome structure, cell types, stages of cell division (mitosis and meiosis), and concepts of cell cycle regulation and cancer, based on the provided lecture notes.

Genome

All genetic material in a cell, with each cell in an organism having a full set, except for gametes.

Chromosomes

Structures composed of DNA packaged with protein.

Prokaryotes

Organisms that have a single circular chromosome.

Eukaryotes

Organisms that have many linear chromosomes that occur in pairs.

Gametes

Sex cells (sperm or egg) that contain a haploid set of chromosomes.

Genes

Sections of DNA that code for a protein.

Autosomes

Chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes.

Sex chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine the biological sex of an organism.

Homologous pairs

Pairs of chromosomes that are the same length, have paternal and maternal copies, carry the same genes, but may have different versions of those genes.

Loci

Specific locations of genes on a chromosome.

Alleles

Different versions of the same gene.

Ploidy

The number of chromosome sets a cell has.

Diploid cell (2n)

A cell that contains two matched sets (homologous) of chromosomes.

Haploid cell (n)

A cell that contains one set of chromosomes (one chromosome from each pair).

Somatic cells

Body cells not associated with sexual reproduction; most cells are diploid.

Germ-line cells

Cells located in sex organs that produce gametes.

Cellular division

The process of one cell dividing into two cells.

Mitosis

A type of eukaryotic cellular division where one cell divides into two genetically identical cells; involved in asexual reproduction.

Meiosis

A type of eukaryotic cellular division where one cell divides into two, and then each of those two divide again, resulting in four genetically unique cells; involved in sexual reproduction.

Cell cycle

The growth and life cycle of a cell, consisting of interphase and mitotic phase.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where the cell grows and DNA is replicated, including G1, S, and G2 phases.

G1 phase

The first gap phase of interphase, characterized by cell growth.

S phase

The synthesis phase of interphase, during which DNA replication occurs.

G2 phase

The second gap phase of interphase, characterized by further cell growth before mitosis.

Mitotic phase (M phase)

The period of the cell cycle when cellular division occurs, including mitosis and cytokinesis.

Cytokinesis

The complete division of the cytoplasm, separating one cell into two daughter cells.

DNA replication

The process where all DNA is copied during S phase, resulting in each chromosome having two sister chromatids.

Sister chromatids

Two identical copies of a chromosome that are attached to each other after DNA replication.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where chromosomes condense and mitotic spindles begin to form from centromeres.

Prometaphase

A phase of mitosis where chromosomes further condense and mitotic spindles attach to chromosomes.

Metaphase

A phase of mitosis where chromosomes are lined up in the center of the cell, with each sister chromatid attached to a mitotic spindle.

Anaphase

A phase of mitosis where sister chromatids separate from each other and are moved to opposite ends of the cell.

Telophase

A phase of mitosis where nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes and chromosomes decondense.

G0 phase

A phase where cells are not actively dividing but remain metabolically active, either temporarily or permanently.

Cell cycle checkpoints

Points in the cell cycle where progression is halted until favorable conditions are met or issues are resolved.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, induced if cell cycle issues cannot be fixed by checkpoints.

Cancer

Uncontrolled cell division, often resulting from mutations in genes for cell cycle checkpoints.

Benign tumor

A mass of cells that is not spreading or invading other tissues.

Malignant tumor

A spreading body of cancerous cells.

Metastasis

The process by which cancer cells spread into other parts of the body.