BIOL 125 – BIOLOGY I Study Guide – Ch. 10 – Chromosomes, Mitosis, and Meiosis

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to chromosomes, mitosis, and meiosis in biology.

DNA

A molecule that carries genetic information.

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a protein or trait.

Chromosome

A thread-like structure made of DNA and proteins that contains genes.

Chromatin

The complex of DNA and proteins in eukaryotic cells.

Histone

A type of protein that DNA wraps around to form nucleosomes.

Nucleosome

A structural unit of a eukaryotic chromosome, composed of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins.

Cell Cycle

The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and replication.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where the cell spends most of its life, including G1, S, and G2 phases.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells after mitosis.

Homologous chromosomes

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

Diploid

A cell that contains two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Haploid

A cell that contains a single set of chromosomes.

Meiosis

The type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing gametes.

Crossing-over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis that increases genetic diversity.

Metaphase I

The stage of meiosis where homologous chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plane.

Cleavage furrow

The indentation that begins the process of cytokinesis in animal cells.

Cell plate

The structure that forms during cytokinesis in plant cells to separate the two daughter cells.

Genetic recombination

The production of offspring with combinations of traits that differ from those found in either parent.