Biology: Mitosis vs. Meiosis Comparison

Vocabulary flashcards comparing the processes of mitosis and meiosis based on the lecture transcript.

Mitosis

A process that results in the formation of body cells.

Meiosis

A process that results in the formation of sperm and egg cells, also known as gametes.

Cytokinesis

The process that follows mitosis and meiosis to split the cytoplasm and complete the actual dividing of the cell.

Diploid ($2N$)

A cell that has two sets of chromosomes; in humans, this is $46$ chromosomes ($23$ from mom and $23$ from dad).

Interphase

A phase before mitosis or meiosis starts where the cell duplicates its chromosomes.

Centromere

The region where newly duplicated portions of a chromosome are attached.

Chromatids

In humans, when $46$ chromosomes are duplicated, there are $92$ of these structures still attached at the centromere.

PMAT

An acronym used to remember the stages of mitosis and meiosis: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase.

Prophase

The stage where chromosomes become visible and are condensing, which means they are thickening.

Homologous

Chromosomes that are approximately the same size and contain the same types of genes in the same locations.

Crossing over

An event in Prophase $I$ of meiosis where homologous chromosomes transfer and exchange genetic information.

Recombinant chromosomes

The resulting chromosomes after genetic information has been exchanged during crossing over.

Metaphase

The stage where chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell; in mitosis they line up in a single file line, while in Metaphase $I$ of meiosis they line up in pairs.

Anaphase

The stage where spindles pull chromatids or chromosomes away to opposite sides of the cell.

Telophase

The stage where chromosomes are at opposite ends and new nuclei form on each side to create new cells.

Haploid

A cell containing half the number of chromosomes as the original starting cell; in humans, this results in $23$ chromosomes.

Zygote

A fertilized egg resulting from the combination of a sperm and egg cell, which then uses mitosis to grow into an organism.