Chapter 2: Cell Division Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts of cell division, stem cells, and the cell cycle as described in the Chapter 2 lecture notes.

Stem cell

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

Adult stem cell

Stem cells found in specific parts of the body in adults and children, such as bone marrow, that can only differentiate into certain types of specialised cells.

Embryonic stem cell

Stem cells found in early human embryos that can differentiate into any type of specialised cell in the body, such as nerve or muscle cells.

Plant meristem

Regions in the roots and shoots of plants that can differentiate into all cell types and be used to create clones of whole plants.

Therapeutic cloning

A process where cells from a patient's own body are used to create a cloned early embryo of themselves to provide stem cells for medical treatment.

Chromosome

Structures found in the nucleus of a cell, made of DNA molecules, that carry a large number of genes.

Gene

Found on chromosomes and made of DNA molecules.

Nucleus

The part of a cell that contains chromosomes, which are normally found in pairs in body cells.

Cell cycle

A series of three stages during which body cells divide to form two identical daughter cells.

Mitosis

The second stage of the cell cycle where a complete set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides.

Binary fission

The process of cell division in bacteria, which can occur as often as every $20\,\text{minutes}$ in optimum temperature and nutrients.

Daughter cells

Two identical cells formed during the third stage of the cell cycle when the cytoplasm and cell membrane divide.

Clone

Genetically identical cells or organisms produced from stem cells or meristems.

Stage 1 of the Cell Cycle

The stage where the cell grows bigger, DNA replicates (chromosomes are duplicated), and the number of sub-cellular structures like ribosomes and mitochondria increases.

Stage 3 of the Cell Cycle

The stage where the cytoplasm and cell membrane divide to form two identical daughter cells.