Biology GCSE AQA - Cell division

Gametes

Sex cells eg sperm, ova, pollen

Diploid

A cell or nucleus of a cell that has a paired set of chromosomes

Gene

A section of a chromosome made from DNA that carrie the code to make protein

Alleles

Two versions of the same gene, one from your mother and one from your father

Mitosis

Cell replication that produces two identical copies of a diploid cell

Daughter cells

The cells produces during mitosis

Chromatid

A copy of a chromosome using cell division

Cytokinesis

The final part of the cell cycle (after mitosis) in which a cell splits in two

Stem Cell

An undifferentiated cell that can develop into one or more types of specialised cell

Differentiation

To specialise or adapt for a particular function

Meristem

An area of a plant in which rapid cell division occurs, normally in the tip of a root or shoot

Hormone

A chemical (produced in a gland in mammals) that moves around an organism to change the function or target cells, tissues or organs

Clone

A genetically identical copy of something

Genetic Variation

Inherited differences in organisms

Environmental Variation

Differences in organisms as a result of the environment in which they live

Ethical Issue

An idea some people disagree with for religious or moral reasons

Chromosome

There are 46 of these in a normal human body cell, found in 23 pairs. One of these is made up of one long strand of DNA and contains many genes.

DNA

This contains the information to make all the proteins in the body and to control the cell. It is found in chromosomes and genes are sections of this.

Zygote

The single new cell formed by the fusion of gametes in sexual reproduction.

DNA Replication

DNA replicates (duplicates itself) and each set moves to an opposite end of the cell before division.

Cytoplasm

liquid inside cell where chemical reactions take place

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell

Nucleus

Contains DNA and controls the cells activity

Sperm Cell

The male reproductive cell

Meiosis

Cell division in which the parent cell divides into daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes

Tissue

Similar cells grouped together

Organ

A structure made of several types of tissue that carries out a particular function

Organ system

Organs that group together to carry out a particular task

Organism

All the organ systems in a complex animal grouped together