genetics vocab

Question 1

Holistic

Answer 1

a way of thinking that emphasizes an entire system and a person’s connections to the oneness of everything

Question 2

analytical

Answer 2

a way of thinking that reduces or compartmentalizes everything into parts and categories; also called a reductionist way of thinking

Question 3

cell cycle

Answer 3

the process by which the parent cell grows, duplicates itself, and divides to produce new daughter cells, usually two

Question 4

interphase

Answer 4

the phase of the cell cycle during which a cell performs its normal cell functions, grows, and prepares for cell division

Question 5

prophase

Answer 5

the first stage of mitosis, the process that breaks down the nuclear membrane and chromatin condenses. Mitotic spindles also form.

Question 6

metaphase

Answer 6

a stage where the doubled chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell on the mitotic spindle. The membrane around the nucleus is completely dissolved

Question 7

anaphase

Answer 7

a stage where the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell, drawn along by spindle fibres. The two sets of chromosomes are identical and have exactly the same genetic info

Question 8

telophase

Answer 8

the spirited chromosomes arrive at opposite sides of the cell. The mitotic spindle disappear. a new nuclear envelope begins to form around each set of chromosomes, forming two new nuclei. the chromosomes lengthen and become less condensed and are no longer visible under the microscope.

Question 9

mitosis

Answer 9

the phase of the cell cycle during which the nucleus divides to produce an exact copy of itself

Question 10

cytokinesis

Answer 10

the phase in the cell cycle during which the cell contents divide and the cell membrane pinches in to produce two separate daughter cells

Question 11

dna

Answer 11

a long molecule that stores a cell’s genetic info, which directs all the cell’s functions

Question 12

chromosome

Answer 12

a structure in the cell nucleus that contains DNA

Question 13

diploid

Answer 13

the characteristic of having a double set of chromosomes

Question 14

haploid

Answer 14

the characteristic of having a single set of chromosomes; two of them join together in the process of fertilization

Question 15

cancer

Answer 15

a disease in which a cell divides uncontrollably; develops when a mutation occurs in the cell that affects how the cell divides

Question 16

tumor

Answer 16

a clump of cancer cells

Question 17

malignant

Answer 17

a term for diseases like cancer in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues.

Question 18

benign

Answer 18

a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous

Question 19

carcinogens

Answer 19

a chemical or toxin in the environment that can damage DNA in cells and cause cancer

Question 20

chemotherapy

Answer 20

treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or stopping them from dividing furthermore

Question 21

radiation therapy

Answer 21

treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrinks tumours

Question 22

asexual reproduction

Answer 22

a form of reproduction that only involves one parent

Question 23

clones

Answer 23

offsprings that are identical copies to the parent

Question 24

binary fission

Answer 24

a form of asexual reproduction in which single-celled organisms divide into two new individuals that are identical to each other and are clones of the parent cell

Question 25

budding

Answer 25

a from of asexual reproduction in which a parent produces a small bud or miniaturized clone that becomes a separate individual

Question 26

parthenogenesis

Answer 26

a form of asexual reproduction by which unfertilized, haploid eggs mature into new organisms

Question 27

spore

Answer 27

a haploid cell that can develop into a new individual

Question 28

vegetative reproduction

Answer 28

a form of asexual reproduction that produces clones from a parent plant; includes cuttings, runners, rhizomes tubers, and bulbs

Question 29

fragmentation

Answer 29

a form of asexual reproduction by which new individuals are formed from a piece of an existing parent organism

Question 30

grafting

Answer 30

the process of joining a part of one plant to another plant , called the parent tree of root stock

Question 31

plant tissues cultures

Answer 31

a form of asexual reproduction that describes the sterile growth and multiplication of plant cells, tissues, and organs in vitro.

Question 32

sexual reproduction

Answer 32

a form of reproduction that involves the union of two sex cells which come together to produce a new individual

Question 33

gamete

Answer 33

a sex cell; sex cell from females are called eggs, or ova; sex cells from males are called sperm; gametes are haploid

Question 34

eggs

Answer 34

a sex cell from a female

Question 35

sperm

Answer 35

a sex cell from a male

Question 36

fertilization

Answer 36

the union of a sperm with an egg cell

Question 37

meiosis

Answer 37

the process of cell division that produces gametes, each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell

Question 38

zygote

Answer 38

a single cell produced from the joining of two gametes

Question 39

embryo

Answer 39

an undeveloped multicellular life form during the earliest stage of its development

Question 40

cleavage

Answer 40

the process by which a zygote divides into two or more cells to produce an embryo

Question 41

hermaphrodites

Answer 41

an animal that is able to produce both male and female gametes

Question 42

pollen

Answer 42

the male gamete of a plant; found on the stamen, or male structure, of the plant

Question 43

ovule

Answer 43

the female gametes of a plant; found in the piste, or female structure, of the plant

Question 44

self-pollination

Answer 44

the transfer of pollen from a plant to the stigma of the same plant

Question 45

cross-pollination

Answer 45

the transfer of pollen from one plant to the stigma of another plant