Concept 3 Notes - Cell Cycle and Cancer

What is the initial stage of development after the fertilization of an egg?

Zygote

What process follows fertilization, resulting in many identical cells?

Mitosis

What is differentiation in cell biology?

The process that creates specialized structures and functions from undifferentiated cells.

What do we call the undifferentiated cells that can become specialized cells?

Stem cells

What are embryonic stem cells?

Cells that have never differentiated and can become any type of cell.

What are adult stem cells?

Cells found in adult bone marrow that are partially differentiated.

What is the cell cycle?

A repeated pattern of growth, DNA duplication, and cell division occurring in eukaryotic cells.

What are the two main purposes of the cell cycle?

Growth and repair.

What are the three main phases of the cell cycle?

Interphase, Mitosis, and Cytokinesis.

What occurs during the G1 phase of Interphase?

Cell grows and makes proteins.

What happens during the S phase of the cell cycle?

DNA replication occurs, doubling the number of chromosomes.

What is the definition of a chromosome?

A long continuous thread of DNA that consists of thousands of genes.

What are sister chromatids?

Two identical chromatids formed after DNA duplication.

What is mitosis?

The division phase of the cell cycle where one cell becomes two identical daughter cells.

What happens during prophase in mitosis?

Chromosomes condense, the nuclear membrane disappears, and spindle fibers form.

What occurs during metaphase?

Chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell, and spindle fibers connect to the centromeres.

What happens during anaphase?

Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.

What is telophase?

The phase where chromosomes decondense, the nuclear membrane re-forms, and cytokinesis begins.

What is cytokinesis?

The division of the cytoplasm into two individual cells.

How often do cells divide?

At different rates based on their specific needs.

What happens when cell cycle regulation fails?

Uncontrollable cell division results in cancer.

What is the purpose of checkpoints in the cell cycle?

To provide critical points where signals can regulate cell division.