Biology: Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Mitosis

A stage of the cell cycle where cell division results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.

Cell Cycle

An ordered sequence of events in the life of a cell includes, G1, S, G2 and M phases

Prophase

phase of mitosis in which duplicated chromosomes condense, nuclear membrane disintergrates and spindle fibers begin to form.

Metaphase

phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell.

Anaphase

phase of mitosis in which the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.

Telophase

phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes uncoil and a new nuclear membrane forms.

Cytokinesis

the division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells immediately after mitosis.

chromatin

long thin strands of DNA found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus that condense to form chromosomes

sister chromatids

one of two identical halves of a replicated or copied chromosome

spindle fibers

Microtubules involved in the movement of chromosomes during mitosis.

Centromere

Area where the sister chromatids of a chromosome are attached

G1 phase

The cell is growing in this phase as well as doing its job

S phase

The cell is replicating its chromosomes in this phase

Interphase

Phase of the cell cycle in which the cell grows and does its function; longest phase in the cell cycle.

Centrioles

an organelle in animal cells involved in the development of spindle fibers in cell division.

asexual reproduction

A reproductive process in prokaryotes that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Cyclin

one of a family of proteins that regulates the timing of the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells

tumor

a mass of rapidly dividing cells that can damage surrounding tissue

Differentiation

process in which cells become specialized in structure and function

stem cells

unspecialized cells that have the ability to become a wide variety of specialized cells

G0 phase

A non-dividing state in which a cell has left the cell cycle and doing its job.

G2 phase

The gap, or growth phase, of the cell cycle, where the molecules required for cell division phase are produced.