Cell Division, the Cell Cycle, and Mitosis

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the cell cycle, chromosome terminology, and the stages and purposes of mitosis.

Replicated Chromosome

A chromosome made of a pair of sister chromatids that condenses roughly $10,000$ times shorter prior to entering cell division.

Maternal and Paternal Chromosomes

Chromosomes inherited from the female and male parents in sexually reproducing organisms, typically distinguished by different colors in cellular diagrams.

Chromosome Type

A categorisation of chromosomes evaluated by specific criteria such as size (for example, small, medium, and large).

Cell Cycle

The series of major events in the life of a cell that begins with a newly formed cell and ends in cell division, consisting of four distinct phases.

G1 Phase (Gap Phase 1)

The first phase of the cell cycle during which the cell grows to reach its final size, organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts multiply, and the cell commits to division.

Daughter Cells

The two cells produced at the conclusion of cell division that are genetically identical to each other and to the original parent cell.

Purposes of Mitosis

Cellular processes supported by generating new cells, which include organismal growth, cell replacement, wound repair, and asexual reproduction in certain organisms.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis, characterized by the initial formation of the spindle apparatus.

Spindle Apparatus

A microtubule-based cellular structure that forms during mitosis and is designed to separate sister chromatids.

Prometaphase

The mitotic stage following prophase where the spindle is fully formed, microtubules connect to each chromatid, and the nuclear envelope begins to break down.