Introduction to Genetics: Mitosis and Meiosis Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture transcript regarding the cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis.

Mitosis

A cellular process that makes an exact copy of a cell.

Meiosis

A process that serves as the basis of Mendel's laws and is synonymous with sexual reproduction.

Binary fission

A method of even splitting used by prokaryotes to replicate their circular chromosome and divide into two cells.

Prokaryotic cell

A cell type that typically has one circular chromosome shaped like a big circle without ends.

Eukaryotic cell

Cells characterized by having nuclei and multiple linear chromosomes, such as humans who possess $46$ chromosomes.

Interphase

The period of the cell cycle consisting of gap phases and synthesis phase ($G1$, $S$, and $G2$) where the cell grows and prepares to split.

$G1$ phase

The first gap phase where cells do their living and perform functions like sending action potentials or secreting insulin.

S phase

The synthesis phase where each chromosome copies and duplicates itself.

$G2$ phase

The second gap phase of interphase that occurs after synthesis and before the cell enters the mitotic phase.

Centromere

A specific region of the chromosome where duplicate pieces are clipped together.

Kinetochore

A structure that forms at the centromere to grab onto the chromosome and connect it to spindle fibers.

Chromatid

A single strand of a chromosome; a chromosome consists of $1$ chromatid in $G1$ phase and $2$ chromatids in $G2$ phase.

Sister chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome produced during the $S$ phase that should be identical if synthesis worked correctly.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where the nucleus begins to weaken and chromosomes start to condense.

Prometaphase

The movement phase between prophase and metaphase where chromosomes move into alignment after the nucleus is gone.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes are lined up and poised to split.

Anaphase

The phase where chromosomes split at the centromere and move to opposite ends of the cell.

Telophase

The ending phase of mitosis where chromosomes reach opposite ends of the cell and the nucleus begins to reform.

Telomeres

The structures found at the specific ends of chromosomes.

Cytokinesis

The process of splitting the cell or cytoplasm in half.

Karyokinesis

The process of splitting the nucleus into two.

Pangenesis

An early attempt to explain heredity where people assumed representatives from different body parts gathered to make a gamete.

Haploid

Organisms or cells that contain only one copy of each type of chromosome.

Diploid

Organisms that have two copies of each chromosome, which is the basis for Mendel's ratios.

Homologous chromosomes

A pair of chromosomes that share a common ancestry, similar size, and the same genes at the same loci, but may have different alleles.

Allele

A different version or sequence of the same gene, such as a "big b" or "little b" protein.

Synaptoneal complex

A structure formed during meiosis $I$ when homologous chromosomes find each other and pair up.