Cell Division and the Cell Cycle

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions related to cell division and the cell cycle.

Chromatid

A single strand of a chromosome that is replicated and joined to its identical sister chromatids.

Chromosome

A structure composed of DNA and associated proteins that carry genetic information.

Homologous chromosomes

Chromosome pairs, one from each parent, that are similar in shape, size, and genetic content.

Sister chromatids

Two identical copies of a single chromosome that are connected by a centromere.

Somatic cell

Any cell of the body except sperm and egg cells.

Gamete

A reproductive cell (sperm or egg) that is haploid and combines with another gamete to form a diploid organism.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid daughter cells.

Cell cycle

The sequence of events that a cell goes through from one division to the next, consisting of interphase and the mitotic phase.

Cytokinesis

The process that divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells after mitosis.

Mitotic spindle

A structure made of microtubules that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis.

Checkpoints of the cell cycle

Regulatory points that ensure proper cell division, which include the G1, G2, and M checkpoints.

Density-dependent inhibition

A mechanism that stops cell division when cells become too crowded.

Anchorage dependence

The requirement of cells to be attached to a substrate to divide.

Cancer cells

Cells that grow and divide uncontrollably, often bypassing the normal regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle.

Differences between mitosis and cytokinesis

Mitosis is the division of the nucleus, while cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm.

Daughter cells at the end of mitosis

Two diploid daughter cells are produced.

Similarities between mitosis and meiosis

Both processes involve cell division and the separation of chromatids, but differ in their number of divisions and outcomes.