BIOL1240 - Chapter 10 Vocabulary

Anaphase

Stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are seperated from each other

Binary Fission

Prokaryotic cell division process

Cell Cycle

Ordered series of events involving cell growth and cell division that produces two new daughter cells

Cell Plate

Structure formed during plant cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles, forming a temporary structure and fusing at the metaphase plate; ultimately leads to the formation of cell walls that seperate the two daughter cells

Cell-Cycle Checkpoint

Mechanism that monitors the preparedness of a eukaryotic cell to advance through the various cell-cycle stages

Centriole

Rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome

Centromere

Region at which sister chromatids are bound together; a constricted area in condensed chromosomes

Chromatid

Single DNA molecule of two strands of duplicated DNA and associated proteins held together at the centromere

Cleavage Furrow

Constriction formed by an actin ring during cytokinesis in animal cells that leads to cytoplasmic division

Condensin

Proteins that help sister chromatids coil during prophase

Cytokinesis

Division of the cytoplasm following mitosis that forms two daughter cells

Diploid

Cell, nucleus, or organism containing two sets of chromosomes (2n)

G0 Phase

Distinct from the G1 phase of interphase, a cell in G0 is not preparing to divide

G1 Phase

(also, first gap) first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis

G2 Phase

(also, second gap) third phase of interphase during which the cell undergoes final preparations for mitosis

Gamete

Haploid reproductive cell or sex cell (sperm, pollen grain, or egg)

Gene

Physical and functional unit of heredity, a sequence of DNA that codes for a protein

Genome

Total genetic information of a cell or organism

Haploid

Cell, nucleus, or organism containing one set of chromosomes (n)

Histone

One of several similar, highly conserved, small proteins found in the chromatin of all eukaryotic cells; associates with DNA to form nucleosomes

Homologous Chromosomes

Chromosomes of the same morphology with genes in the same location; diploid organisms have pairs of homologous chromosomes (homologs), with each homologous derived from a different parent`

Interphase

Period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2 phases (the interim period between two consecutive cell divisions)

Karyokinesis

Mitotic nuclear division (aka mitosis)

Kinetochore

Protein structure associated with the centrome of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase

Locus

Position of a gene on a chromosome

Metaphase

Stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are aligned at the metaphase plate

Metaphase plate

Equatorial plane midway between two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase

Mitosis

(also, karyokinesis) period of the cell cycle during which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase

Mitotic Phase

period of the cell cycle during which duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes karyokinesis (mitosis) and cytokinesis

Mitotic Spindle

Apparatus composed of microtubules that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis

Nucleosome

Subunit of chromatin composed of a short length of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins

Oncogene

Mutated version of a normal gene involved in the positive regulation of the cell cycle

Origin

(also, ORI) region of the prokaryotic chromosome where replication begins (origin of replication)

Prometaphase

Stage of mitosis during which the nuclear membrane breaks down and mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores

Prophase

Stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores

Quiescent

Refers to a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell divsion

S phase

Second, or synthesis, stage of interphase during which DNA replication occurs

Telophase

Stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by a new nuclear envelope