2.3 Cell division and Differentiation

Cell Division

The process by which a cell divides into two or more daughter cells.

Somatic Cells

Any cells of the body except sperm and egg cells.

Stem Cells

Undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into different cell types.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two identical diploid daughter cells.

Haploid

A cell that contains a single set of chromosomes (n).

Diploid

A cell containing two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent (2n).

Cell Cycle

The series of events that take place in a cell as it grows and divides.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle in which the cell is not actively dividing.

Cytokinesis

The physical separation of the cytoplasm into two daughter cells after mitosis.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death.

Cyclins

Proteins that regulate the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).

Recombination (crossover)

The process during meiosis where segments of DNA are shuffled between homologous chromosomes.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells that can differentiate into any cell type of the body.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Pluripotent stem cells that are generated from somatic cells through reprogramming.

Cell Differentiation

The process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.

Chromatids

One of the two identical halves of a replicated chromosome.

Tumor Suppressor Gene

A gene that regulates cell division and can prevent tumor formation if functioning properly.

Meiosis

A specialized form of cell division that reduces chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid cells.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Regulatory points in the cell cycle that assess whether the cell is ready to proceed with division.

Homologous Chromosomes

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

Differentiation Mechanism

The process that leads to the specialization of cells through changes in gene expression.

Neurodegeneration

The progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, often associated with diseases.