Cell Cycle

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing the cell cycle, stages of mitosis, DNA replication enzymes, and gene expression processes based on lecture notes.

Cell Cycle

The cycle that cells go through while dividing.

G1 Phase

The longest stage of the cell cycle containing checkpoints where the cell checks for oxygen, space, and nutrients.

S Phase

The stage of the cell cycle dedicated to DNA replication.

G2 Phase

The stage of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for mitosis.

M Phase

The phase of the cell cycle comprising mitosis and cytokinesis.

Mitosis

The process where the nucleus disappears and DNA splits into $2$, ending with two nuclei.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cell that results in two daughter cells being created.

Prophase

The first stage of mitosis where the nuclear envelope breaks down, DNA condenses into chromosome form, spindle fibers emerge from centrosomes, and centrosomes migrate to opposite sides.

Metaphase

The second stage of mitosis where chromosomes line up at the equatorial plate.

Sister Chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome connected at the centromere.

Anaphase

The third stage of mitosis where sister chromatids are pulled apart.

Telophase

The fourth stage of mitosis where nuclear envelopes form and DNA de-condenses into chromosome form.

Interphase

All phases of the cell cycle except mitosis, in which the cell has a nucleus and chromosomes cannot be seen.

Topoisomerase

An enzyme in DNA replication that relieves torsional strain.

Helicase

An enzyme that unzips the DNA by creating a replication fork.

Primase

An enzyme that creates a small RNA primer during DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that connects and anneals nucleotides to create new DNA strands, proofreads DNA, and synthesizes DNA in the $5'$ to $3'$ direction.

Ligase

An enzyme that connects Okazaki fragments to make the lagging strand of DNA.

Transcription

The first step of gene expression occurring in the nucleus where a pre-mRNA strand is created from a DNA template strand.

RNA Processing

Post-transcriptional modifications occurring in the nucleus involving addition of a $5'$ cap, polyadenylation of the $3'$ end, and exon splicing where introns are removed.

Translation

The process where mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA work together using $64$ codons and $20$ amino acids to create polypeptides that later become proteins.