Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Vocabulary review of the cell cycle, interphase stages, and the phases of mitosis based on the lecture material.

Differentiation

The process where cells become specialized types, such as skin cells, muscle cells, eye cells, or brain cells.

Interphase

The longest stage of the cell cycle where the cell grows and performs its normal job; for example, brain cells may spend 85 years in this stage.

G1 stage

The first part of interphase where the cell simply grows and does its job.

S phase

The stage of interphase where the cell continues to grow while making a copy of its DNA so the new cells will be genetically identical.

G2 stage

The final stage of interphase where the cell grows bigger and makes final preparations for division, including doubling the centrioles in animal cells.

Mitotic stage

The shortest event of the cell cycle, involving both mitosis and cytokinesis.

Mitosis

The division of the cell nucleus, which is separated into four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm and organelles, excluding the nucleus, which occurs simultaneously with telophase.

PMAT

The acronym used to remember the four stages of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Centrioles

Structures in animal cells that play a role in cell division by organizing protein fibers; they are not present in plant cells.

Chromatin

The loose, string-like form of DNA present during interphase before it condenses into visible chromosomes.

Prophase

The first stage of mitosis where centrioles move to opposite sides, spindle fibers appear, chromatin condenses into chromosomes, and the nuclear membrane disappears.

Spindle fibers

Protein fibers made of microtubules that shoot out of centrioles and act like rope to hook onto and move chromosomes.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where spindle fibers attach to centromeres and line the chromosomes up in a single file along the equator of the cell.

Centromere

The specific location on a chromosome where spindle fibers attach.

Anaphase

The stage of mitosis where spindle fibers shorten, splitting the centromeres and pulling sister chromatids to opposite poles of the cell.

Sister chromatids

Identical copies of DNA found in a chromosome that are moved to opposite ends of the cell during anaphase.

Telophase

The final stage of mitosis where spindle fibers disappear, nuclear membranes and nucleoli reappear, and chromosomes uncoil back into chromatin.

Cleavage furrow

The indentation that forms in animal cells as the membrane pinches inward to split the cytoplasm into two cells.

Cell plate

The structure that forms in the middle of a plant cell during cytokinesis which eventually becomes a new solid cell wall.