Cell Cycle - review guide

Apoptosis

This is the coded in death of the cells, it kills unnecessary cells that can harm the organism.

Cell inhibition

Cells are surrounded by other cells and knows to stop reproducing

Tumor Suppressor gene

Slows down the cell cycle which decreases the number of cells produced

Mitotic index

Mitotic index is defined as the ratio between the number of a population's cells undergoing mitosis to its total number of cells.

p53

the gene that suppresses cell growth to prevent tumors

Mutated p53

Does not slow down the cell cycle and leads to an overproduction of cells

Cell cycle

The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the series of events that take place in a cell that cause it to divide into two daughter cells.

Zygote

eukaryotic cell formed by a fertilization event between two gametes. The zygote's genome is a combination of the DNA in each gamete, and contains all of the genetic information of a new individual organism

Chromosomes

A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses

Gametes (sex cells - egg + sperm)

a mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.

Somatic cell (body cells)

any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells.

Fertilization

fusion of gametes to give rise to a new individual organism or offspring and initiate its development

Checkpoints

Cell cycle checkpoints are control mechanisms in the eukaryotic cell cycle which ensure its proper progression

Mitosis

a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.

Meiosis

type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in gametes

Cell division

process by which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells

cancer cells

cells that divide continually, forming solid tumors or flooding the blood or lymph with abnormal cells

Mutation

alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA

Cell differentiation

process in which a stem cell alters from one type to a differentiated one

Genetic Variation

difference in DNA among individuals or the differences between populations