4._Cellular_Division-1-1

Mitosis

The division of the cell nucleus, resulting in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid cells from one diploid parent cell.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where most of the cell's life is spent, during which the DNA is copied.

Sister chromatids

Two identical copies of a chromosome, joined together at the centromere.

Centromere

The region where sister chromatids are attached to each other.

Cell cycle

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

Prophase

The first stage of mitosis where chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope begins to break down.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell.

Anaphase

The phase of mitosis in which the centromeres split and sister chromatids are pulled to opposite ends of the cell.

Telophase

The final stage of mitosis where nuclear envelopes reform around the daughter nuclei.

Cytokinesis

The process by which the cytoplasm of a parental cell is divided into two daughter cells.

Diploid (2N)

A cell containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Haploid (1N)

A cell containing only one set of chromosomes.

Nucleosome

A structural unit of DNA, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a core of histone proteins.

Chromatin

The relaxed form of DNA in the nucleus during interphase.

Karyotyping

A laboratory procedure that examines the number and structure of chromosomes.

Contact inhibition

A regulatory mechanism that stops cell division when cells are crowded together.

Microtubules

Cylindrical structures that make up the spindle fibers used to separate chromosomes during mitosis.