Lecture 8 Cell Cycle and Mitosis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the cell cycle and mitosis as discussed in the lecture.

Binary fission

The process by which prokaryotic cells divide, producing two daughter cells from an original parent cell.

Eukaryotic chromosomes

Nuclear units of genetic information that are divided and distributed during mitotic cell division.

Diploid (2n)

A cell or species with two sets of chromosomes, such as humans with 46 chromosomes.

S phase

The phase of the cell cycle where DNA replication and chromosome duplication occur.

Cyclins

Regulatory proteins that fluctuate in concentration during the cell cycle and activate cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that serves as a regulatory mechanism in multicellular organisms.

Sister chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome that are connected at the centromere after DNA replication.

G1 phase

The phase of the cell cycle where the cell carries out its function and may grow.

Checkpoints

Control points in the cell cycle that ensure the cell is ready to proceed to the next stage.

Cytokinesis

The process of division of the cytoplasm, resulting in two daughter cells after mitosis.

Centrosome

An organelle that serves as the main microtubule organizing center and plays a crucial role during mitosis.

Telomere shortening

The progressive loss of telomere length with each cell division, which contributes to cellular senescence.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where chromosomes are aligned in the middle of the cell.

Oncogenes

Mutated genes that can lead to cancer by causing uncontrolled cell division.

Cytokinesis by furrowing

A method of cytokinesis in animal cells that involves the contraction of microfilaments.

Mitosis

The process through which replicated DNA is distributed equally to daughter cells.