Life Cycles and Reproduction

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to life cycles and reproduction, as discussed in the lecture.

Haploid

A cell or organism that contains one set of chromosomes (n).

Diploid

A cell or organism that contains two sets of chromosomes (2n).

Dikaryotic

A genetic condition in fungi where two nuclei coexist in a single cell (n+n).

Mitosis

A type of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells, occurring in growth and asexual reproduction.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four non-identical haploid cells, essential for sexual reproduction.

Plasmogamy

The fusion of cell membranes from two mating types, occurring in the life cycles of fungi.

Karyogamy

The fusion of nuclei from two gametes, leading to a diploid zygote.

Gamete

A haploid reproductive cell that can fuse with another gamete during fertilization.

Zygote

A diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two gametes.

Embryo

The developing organism after fertilization.

Sporophyte

The multicellular diploid stage in the life cycle of plants that produces spores.

Gametophyte

The multicellular haploid stage in the life cycle of plants that produces gametes.

Alternation of generations

A life cycle pattern that includes both haploid and diploid multicellular stages.

Fertilization

The process where two gametes fuse to form a zygote.

Spores

Haploid cells produced by meiosis that can grow into a new organism.

Life cycle

The series of changes in the life of an organism, including reproduction, that describes how it develops and propagates.