Cell Division and Cell Cycle Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the concepts of cell cycle phases and types of cell division.

Cell cycle

Sequential events occurring in the life of a cell, consisting of two main phases: interphase and M-phase.

Interphase

The stage between two successive cell divisions and the longest phase of the cell cycle during which the cell is highly active and prepares itself for cell division.

G1-phase

Also known as the first gap period or first growth period (lasting 8 hours or more), which starts immediately after cell division and involves RNA synthesis (mRNA, rRNA, and t-RNA), protein synthesis, and membrane synthesis.

S-phase

The synthesis phase (lasting 6-8 hours) in which DNA is synthesized or replicated so that the amount of DNA per cell doubles, and histone proteins are synthesized.

G2-phase

The second growth phase (lasting 2-5 hours) during which the nucleus increases in volume, essential metabolic activities and protein/RNA synthesis occur, and a daughter pair of centrioles appears near the pre-existing pair in animal cells.

M-phase

The period of division (lasting 1-3 hours) where 'M' stands for mitosis or meiosis, involving both karyokinesis and cytokinesis.

Karyokinesis

The division of the nucleus into two daughter nuclei during M-phase.

Cytokinesis

The division of cytoplasm resulting in the formation of two daughter cells.

Amitosis

The simplest mode of cell division (direct division) where a nuclear constriction deepens to divide the nucleus, followed by division of the cytoplasm, occurring in unicellular organisms, abnormal cells, old cells, and foetal membrane cells.

Mitosis

Indirect division that can be performed by both haploid and diploid cells.

Meiosis

Reductional division that can be performed by diploid cells only.