Vocabulary Flashcards
(58 cards)
Gamete
A gamete is a reproductive cell (sperm or egg) that carries half the genetic material of an organism.
Cell cycle
The cell cycle is the series of stages a cell goes through to grow, replicate DNA, and divide.
Interphase
Interphase is the longest stage of the cell cycle, where the cell grows, replicates DNA, and prepares for division.
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells.
Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis is the final step of cell division, where the cytoplasm splits to form two separate cells.
Spindle fibers
Spindle fibers are protein structures that help separate chromosomes during cell division.
Equatorial plane
The equatorial plane is the central region of a cell where chromosomes align during metaphase.
Prometaphase
Prometaphase is the stage of mitosis where the nuclear envelope breaks down and spindle fibers attach to chromosomes.
Cleavage furrow
A cleavage furrow is the indentation that forms during cytokinesis in animal cells, leading to cell division.
Cell plate
A cell plate is a structure that forms in plant cells during cytokinesis, eventually becoming the new cell wall.
Telomere
A telomere is the protective cap at the end of a chromosome that prevents loss of genetic information during cell division.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase
Telomerase reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that adds repetitive DNA sequences to the ends of telomeres, helping maintain chromosome stability during cell division.
G0 phase
The G0 phase is a resting phase where cells are not actively dividing or preparing to divide.
Cancer
Cancer is uncontrolled cell growth that can form tumors and spread.
p53 gene
The p53 gene helps prevent tumor growth by regulating the cell cycle and inducing cell death when necessary.
Metastasis
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original tumor to other parts of the body.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a cancer treatment that targets specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth.
Meiosis
Meiosis is the process of cell division that produces four genetically diverse gametes with half the chromosome number.
Karyotype
A karyotype is an image of an organism’s chromosomes, arranged by size and number.
Reduction division
Reduction division is the type of cell division in meiosis that halves the chromosome number.
Tetrad
A tetrad is a group of four chromatids formed during meiosis by the pairing of homologous chromosomes.
Synapsis
A fusion of chromosome Pairs at the start of meoisis
Gametogenesis
The production of gametes from haploid precursor cells
Nondisjunction
The failure of the chromosomes to separate