AP Biology: The Cell Cycle and Meiosis

interphase

the phase of the cell cycle in which the original cell grows, replicates its DNA, and passes checkpoints

G1 phase

initial growth period of Interphase; followed by a growth checkpoint

G1 checkpoint

the first checkpoint of interphase, checks to see if the cell is big enough for DNA synthesis

S phase

period of Interphase in which the DNA is replicated; also called DNA synthesis

G2 phase

second growth period of Interphase; followed by a check that the cell is big enough, the DNA was properly synthesized, and to make small repairs

G2 checkpoint

checkpoint after the second growth period that checks growth and DNA, sometimes makes repairs

M checkpoint

checkpoint for spindle fiber attachment

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

prophase

phase of mitosis in which chromatin condenses into chromosomes, nucleolus dissolves, centrosomes separate, miotic spindle forms

prometaphase

phase of mitosis in which the nuclear envelope dissolves, the chromosomes form two kinetochores at the centromere, microtubules attach

metaphase

phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes line up/meet in the middle

anaphase

phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes are pulled apart, with the halves going towards opposite poles

telephase

phase of mitosis in which 2 new nuclear envelopes form, chromosomes unfold into chromatin, 2 nucleolus appear, cell stretches out

cytokinesis

animal cells: phase of mitosis in which membranes pinch off, forming two cells

plant cells: phase of mitosis in which a plate the cell walls, forming two cells

density dependent

cell growth limiting factor that halts the production of new cells when there is no more space or if no more are needed (nonexistent in cancer cells)

anchorage dependent

cell growth limiting factor that requires the cell to be anchored to substrate, tissue or other cell in order to grow (nonexistent in cancer cells)

Maturation Promoting Factor

MPF or the level of cyclin-CDK combo that triggers movement into the next phase of the cell cycle

apoptosis

programmed cell death

angiogenesis

the necessity of blood flow to create something / keep it "alive"

p53, pRb

most common tumor suppressing genes

oncogenes

accelerate cell growth and division like a stuck gas pedal

DNA repair genes

can repair DNA damage and small amounts of mutations in the replicated DNA

diploid

2 sets of chromosomes of somatic cells

somatic cell

any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells

haploid

1 complete set of chromosomes; gametes

gametes

reproductive haploid

meiosis

type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell

homologous pairs

a set of one maternal chromosome and one paternal chromosome that pair up with each other inside a cell during meiosis

crossing over

process in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis

tetrad

A paired set of homologous chromosomes, each composed of two sister chromatids; forms during prophase I of meiosis

segregation

The separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes

law of independent assortment

One of Mendel's principles that states that genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes

translocation

A chromosome abnormality caused by a rearrangement of parts between non homologous chromosomes

binary fission

term for the splitting of a cell

chromosomes

the histoproteins wrapped tightly with 9 feet of DNA in every cell

chromatids

Bodies of tightly coiled chromatin; visible during cell division; two of these bound at a centromere make a CHROMOSOME

telomeres

strand of molecules at both ends of a chromosome that help protect DNA

centromeres

the point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division

centrosomes

an organelle near the nucleus of a cell that contains the centrioles (in animal cells) and from which the spindle fibers develop in cell division

microtubules

spindle fibers that attach to the kinetochores for pulling apart

motor proteins

proteins inside the kinetochore, gives the chromosome more energy during mitosis

actin filaments

work with motor proteins to split the cell during cytokinesis

kinetochores

the part of the centromere where microtubules attach