Bio Chap 7 - Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Cell Differentiation

Apoptosis

a predictable, controlled process of cell self-destruction; programmed cell death.

Binary fission

a method of asexual reproduction in which one prokaryotic cell divides into 2 identical descendants.

Cytokinesis

a process in which a eukaryotic cell divides in 2 after mitosis or meiosis; cytoplasmic division.

Interphase

the period in the life cycle of a cell in which there is no visible mitotic division; period between mitotic division in which cell performs normal growth and metabolic functions.

Mitosis

a division of the cell nucleus resulting in the distribution of a complete set of chromosomes to each daughter cell; occurs in stages (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase); basis of body growth, tissue repair and sometimes asexual reproduction.

Oncogene

a gene that helps transform a normal cell into a tumor cell.

Homologous chromosome

in a nucleus, one of a pair of chromosomes that have the same length, shape, and genes.

Sister chromatid

one of two identical DNA molecules of a duplicated eukaryotic chromosome, attached at the centromere.

Cell differentiation

a process by which cells become specialized during development; occurs as different cells in an embryo begin to use different subsets of their DNA.

Meristem

a zone of undifferentiated parenchyma cells, the divisions of which give rise to new tissues during plant growth.

Stem cell

a cell that can divide to produce more stem cells or differentiate into a specialized cell type.