Cell Division and Mitosis

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the processes of cell division and mitosis, providing definitions and explanations to aid in understanding.

Chromatin

The stretched out form of DNA, appearing like a mass of spaghetti-like molecules within the nucleus.

Chromosomes

Tightly packed structures formed from chromatin in preparation for cell division.

Karyotype

A profile of an individual's chromosomes, used to identify genetic abnormalities.

Homologous pairs

Pairs of chromosomes that consist of one chromosome from each parent and that contain the same genes.

Sister chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome, formed during DNA replication, held together by a centromere.

Centromere

The region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids are joined and where the spindle fibers attach during cell division.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where the cell performs its normal functions and prepares for mitosis by duplicating its DNA.

Cytokinesis

The final step in the cell division process, involving the division of the cytoplasm to form two separate cells.

Autosomal chromosomes

The 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not involved in determining sex.

Sex chromosomes

The pair of chromosomes that determine an individual's sex, with XX representing female and XY representing male.

Cell cycle

The series of phases that a cell goes through from one cell division to the next, comprising interphase and mitosis.

Spindle fibers

Structures that help separate sister chromatids during mitosis.

Cancer

Uncontrolled cell division that can lead to the formation of tumors and disruption of normal body functions.