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Based on the 3rd edition biology textbook written by C.J. Clegg, Andrew Davis, Christopher Talbot
parent cell
cell that divides to form daughter cells by mitosis or meiosis
daughter cells
cells produced when a cell divides by mitosis or meiosis
cytokinesis
splitting of cytoplasm in a parent cell between daughter cells, following the division of the nucleus
mitosis
nuclear division in which the daughter nuclei have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cells
meiosis
nuclear division with daughter cells (gametes) containing half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell
diploid
cells with nuclei containing two sets of chromosomes
haploid
cells with nuclei containing one set of chromosomes
interphase
the period between nuclear divisions when the nucleus controls and directs the activity of the cell and replicates chromosomes
chromatid
one of two copies of a chromosome after it has replicated, joined, together at a centromere
centromere
constriction of the chromosome, the region that becomes attached to the spindle fibres during nuclear division
histone
protein (rich in the amino acids arginine and lysine) that forms the scaffolding of chromosomes and is used in chromosome condensation to form nucleosomes
nucleosome
the basic unit of eukaryotic chromosome structure consisting of a ball of eight histone molecules wrapped about by two coils of about 220 base pairs of DNA
supercoiled
form of DNA in which the double helix is further twisted about itself within nucleosomes, forming a tightly coiled structure
prophase
first stage in nuclear division or meiotic, where the chromosomes condense and centrioles move to the poles of the cell
metaphase
stage in nuclear division (mitosis and meiosis) in which chromosomes become arranged at the equator of the spindle
anaphase
stage in nuclear division where chromosomes move away from one another to opposite poles of the cell
telophase
a phase in the nuclear division when the nuclear membrane reforms around daughter cell nuclear material
proliferation
increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division
meristem
a group of cells in plants that retains the ability to divide by mitosis and form new cells and tissues throughout the life of a plant
cell proliferation
the process of generating an increased number of cells through cell division (mitosis)
cell cycle
repeating process of an orderly sequence of events where cells arise by the division of existing cells, grow, and then divide
cyclin
regulatory protein whose concentration rises and fells at specific times during the eukaryotic cell cycle
kinases
enzymes that either activate or inactivate other proteins, their “turn on“ are cyclins.
proto-oncogene
gene that codes for proteins that stimulate the cell cycle and promote cell growth and proliferation
oncogene
a gene that when activated cab potentially make a cell cancerous. Typically a mutant form of a normal gene (proto-oncogene) involved in the control of cell growth or division
tumour-suppressor gene
a gene that in a normal tissue cell inhibits cancerous behaviour. Loss or inactivation of both copies of such a gene from a diploid cell can cause it to behave as a cancer cell
benign tumour
a tumour that tends to grow slowly and does not spread to other parts of the body
malignant tumour
a tumour that grows rapidly, invades and destroys nearby normal tissues and spreads throughout the body
primary tumour
a cancer growing at the site where the abnormal growth first occured
secondary tumour
formed when cancerous cells detach from the primary tumour, penetrate the walls of lymph or blood vessels and circulate around the body causing tumours elsewhere
metastasis
the movement of cells from a primary tumour to set up secondary tumours
mitotic index
the number of cells undergoing mitosis is divided by the total number of cells visible which can also be shown as a percentage
