Cellular Reproduction - Mitosis Notes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to cellular reproduction, prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes, cell cycles, mitosis, and cytokinesis.

Prokaryotic Chromosomes

Circular, tend to be smaller, and are present in the cytoplasm (not in a nucleus).

Eukaryotic Chromosomes

Linear (has a beginning and an end), contain much more DNA, and are mostly present in the nucleus (some in the mitochondria).

Duplicated chromosome

A chromosome that has undergone replication, consisting of two sister chromatids.

Centromere

The region where sister chromatids are joined together in a duplicated chromosome.

Sister chromatids

Two identical copies of a chromosome joined together by a centromere, formed after DNA replication.

Histone proteins

Proteins around which DNA is wound to form nucleosomes in eukaryotic cells.

Nucleosome

A fundamental repeating unit of eukaryotic chromatin, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a core of histone proteins.

Binary Fission

A form of asexual reproduction in prokaryotic cells where DNA duplicates, the cell membrane indents, and two daughter cells are formed.

Asexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction where a single parent produces genetically identical offspring, as seen in binary fission.

G1 (Growth phase 1)

A phase in the eukaryotic cell cycle where the cell is functioning normally and growing.

S (Synthesis) phase

A phase in the eukaryotic cell cycle where DNA replication occurs.

G2 (Growth phase 2)

A phase in the eukaryotic cell cycle where the cell is preparing for mitosis.

M (Active cell division) phase

A phase in the eukaryotic cell cycle that includes both mitosis (nuclear division) and cytokinesis (cellular division).

G0 (Resting state)

A state where a eukaryotic cell is neither dividing nor preparing to divide.

G1 checkpoint

A checkpoint in the eukaryotic cell cycle that decides if the cell should proceed to replicate DNA; if not, the cell enters G0.

G2 checkpoint

A checkpoint in the eukaryotic cell cycle that checks for DNA replication completeness and decides if the cell enters M phase.

M (Spindle checkpoint)

A checkpoint in the eukaryotic cell cycle that determines if spindle fibers are correctly attached to the centromeres.

Mitosis

Nuclear division that produces 2 identical daughter cells and occurs in somatic (body cells).

Cytokinesis

The process of cellular division, which follows mitosis.

Somatic cells

Body cells in which mitosis occurs.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where DNA condenses, chromosomes become visible, the spindle begins to form, and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

Metaphase

The second phase of mitosis where chromosomes line up at the center of the cell.

Anaphase

The third phase of mitosis where chromosomes move toward opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase

The fourth phase of mitosis where the cell begins to divide into daughter cells, and nuclear envelopes reform.

Cytokinesis (Animals)

In animal cells, the cell membrane pinches in the center to form two daughter cells.

Cytokinesis (Plants)

In plant cells, a cell plate forms between the cells, and the cell wall grows on either side.