Cell Division

Chromosome - packages of DNA molecules that are found in the nucleus of cells

Genome - all of a cell’s DNA; the complete set of a cell’s genetic information

Sister chromatid - joined copies of the original chromosome that make up each duplicated chromosome, they are joined together by protein complexes called cohesins

Chromatin - DNA in its less condensed form, where it’s simply a long, thin, threadlike fiber as opposed to a tightly coiled chromosome

Cell division- the process of a cell dividing into identical daughter cells, that contain identical genetic material.

Mitosis - the process in eukaryotic organisms by which the genetic material of the nucleus is split equally into two identical daughter cells

Cytokinesis - the process of dividing non-nuclear/non-genetic cell material, such as organelles, between the two daughter cells. In animals, this happens via a cleavage furrow; in plants, this happens via a cell plate.

Somatic cell- this contains most cells. Somatic cells are all other cells that are not germ or reproductive cells.

Gametes - a haploid reproductive cell, either an egg or sperm that is formed through meiosis.

Centrosome- an organelle outside of the nucleus that helps orchestrate mitosis, by moving to the poles of the cell and forming spindle fibers.

Kinetochore - a protein-dense section within a centromere on each of the two sister chromatids that attaches to the mitotic spindle

Heredity - passing on traits from one generation to the next, continuing characteristics through a genetic line

Variation - differences among individuals within the same species.

Genetics - The study of heredity and hereditary variation

Meiosis- a type of cell division that occurs in reproductive cells, instead of two daughter cells there are four identical daughter cells produced.

Genes - hereditary information consisted of specific nucleotide sequences in DNA

Alleles- An alternative version of a gene that produces phenotypic effects

Homologous chromosomes - a pair of chromosomes made of one maternal chromosome and one paternal chromosome that pair up during meiosis

Diploid - a cell in which each chromosome is part of a homologous pair, so each trait has two alleles that can encode information - also known as a 2n cell, since it has two sets of chromosomes

Haploid - refers to having a single set of unpaired chromosomes (n) in a cell

Synapsis - this is the pairing of homologous chromosomes during early meiosis in the prophase

Crossing over- The change of genetic information between nonsister chromatids during prophase I of meiosis