Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Meiosis, and Regulation Vocab - CORE Acc. Biology 9

gamete

sex cell; an egg or a sperm cell

germ cell

cells in the reproductive organs that develop into gametes

homologous chromosome

chromosomes that have the same length, appearance, and copies of genes, although the alleles may differ

autosome

chromosome that contains genes for characteristics not directly related to the sex of the organism

sex chromosome

chromosome that directly controls the development of sexual characteristics

diploid

cell that has two copies of each chromosome, one from an egg and one from a sperm

haploid

cell that has only one copy of each chromosome

meiosis

form of nuclear division that divides a diploid cell into haploid cells; important in forming gametes for sexual reproduction

meiosis I

series of events during gamete formation in which the homologous chromosomes are separated

meiosis II

series of events during gamete formation in which the sister chromatids are separated

crossing over

exchange of chromosome segments between homologous chromosomes during meiosis I

genetic linkage

tendency for genes located close together on the same chromosome to be inherited together

cell cycle

pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division that occurs in a eukaryotic cell

mitosis

process by which a body cell divides its nucleus and contents

cytokinesis

process by which the cell cytoplasm divides

somatic cell

cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes

chromosome

long, continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes and regulatory information

histone

protein that organizes chromosomes and around which DNA wraps

chromatin

loose combination of DNA and proteins that is present during interphase

chromatid

one half of a duplicated chromosome

centromere

region of condensed chromosome in the center of chromatid where spindle fibers attach during meiosis and mitosis

telomere

repeating nucleotide at the ends of DNA molecules that do not form genes and help prevent the loss of genes

prophase

first phase of mitosis when chromatin condenses, the nuclear envelope breaks down, the nucleolus disappears, and the centrosomes and centrioles migrate to opposite sides of the cell

metaphase

second phase of mitosis when spindle fibers align the chromosomes along the cell equator

anaphase

third phase of mitosis during which chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite sides of the cell

telophase

last phase of mitosis when a complete set of identical chromosomes is positioned at each pole of the cell, the nuclear membranes start to form, the chromosomes begin to uncoil, and the spindle fibers disassemble

growth factor

broad group of proteins that stimulate cell division

apoptosis

programmed cell death that takes place when internal or external signals turn on genes to produce self-destructive enzymes

cancer

common name for a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division

benign

having no dangerous effect on health, especially referring to an abnormal growth of cells that are not cancerous

malignant

cancerous tumor in which cells break away and spread to other parts of the body, causing harm to the organism’s health

metastasize

to spread by transferring a disease-causing agent from the site of the disease to other parts of the body

centriole

cell organelle that pulls DNA to poles of cell in mitosis and meiosis