Chapter 11 Vocabulary

1.  Cell division- process in which  a cell divides into two new daughter cells

2. Asexual reproduction- process of reproduction involving a single parent that results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

3. Sexual reproduction- type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

4. Chromosome- threadlike structure within the nucleus that contains genetic information that is passed on from generation to the next

5. Chromatin- substance found in eukaryotic chromosomes that consists of DNA tightly coiled around histones

6. Cell cycle- series of events in which a cell grows, prepares for division, and divides to form two daughter cells

7. Interphase- period of the cell cycle between  cell divisions in which the cell grows

8. Mitosis- part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides 

9. Cytokinesis- division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells

10. Prophase- first and longest phase of mitosis in which the genetic material inside the nucleus condenses and the chromosomes become visible

11. Chromatid- one of two identical “sister” parts of a duplicated chromosome

12. Centromere- region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids attach

13. Centriole- structure in an animal cell that helps to organize cell division

14. Metaphase- phase of mitosis in which  the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell

15. Anaphase- phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell

16. Telophase- phase of mitosis in which the distance individual chromosomes begin to spread out into a tangle of chromatin

17. Growth factor- one of a group of external regulatory proteins that stimulate the growth and division of cells 

18. Cyclin- one of a family of proteins that regulates the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells 

19. Apoptosis-  the process of programmed cell death

20. Cancer- disorder in which some of the body’s cells lose the ability to control growth

21. Tumor- mass of rapidly dividing cells that can damage surrounding tissues

22. Embryo- developing stage of a multicellular organism 

23. Differentiation- process in which cells become specialized in structure and function 

24. Totipotent- cells that are able to develop into any type of cell found in the body (including cells that make up the extraembryonic membranes and placenta)

25. Blastocyst- stage of early development in mammals that consists of a hollow ball of cells 

26. Pluripotent- cells that are capable of developing into most, but not all, of the body’s cell types

27. Stem cell- unspecialized cell that can give rise to one or more types of specialized cells

Multipotent- cell with limited potential to develop into many types of differentiated cells