The Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the cell cycle and mitosis.

Nucleosome

A stretch of DNA wrapped around a core of 8 histone proteins.

Linker DNA

A stretch of DNA not wrapped around histones that connects neighboring nucleosomes.

Chromatin

Loosely packaged DNA found in nondividing cells.

Chromosome

Tightly wound DNA found in actively dividing cells.

Sister chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome connected at the centromere.

Cell division in unicellular organisms

Process where cell division equals reproduction, creating a new organism.

Asexual reproduction

A type of reproduction where new cells are genetically identical to the original cell.

Cell proliferation functions

Growth, cell replacement, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

Higher surface area-to-volume ratio

Reason smaller cells are more efficient at exchanging nutrients, gases, and waste.

Interphase

The stage of the cell cycle where the cell grows and DNA is replicated before mitosis.

Mitotic Phase (M Phase)

The phase of the cell cycle that includes mitosis and cytokinesis.

Prophase

The stage of mitosis where chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where duplicated chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate.

Anaphase

The stage of mitosis where sister chromatids separate and move toward the poles of the cell.

Telophase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes decondense, and the nuclear membrane reforms.

Cytokinesis

The process that divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two daughter cells.

Binary fission

The type of cell division performed by prokaryotes to produce two genetically identical cells.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that occurs when there is extensive DNA damage.

Tumor

An accumulation of an abnormal mass of cells due to uncontrolled cell division.

Benign tumor

An abnormal growth of cells that is not cancerous.

Malignant tumor

A cancerous tumor that grows and divides more rapidly than benign tumors.

Metastasis

The process of cancer spreading to other parts of the body through the bloodstream.