- anaphase
- the stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are separated from each other
- binary fission
- the process of prokaryotic cell division
- cell cycle
- the ordered sequence of events that a cell passes through between one cell division and the next
- cell cycle checkpoints
- mechanisms that monitor the preparedness of a eukaryotic cell to advance through the various cell cycle stages
- cell plate
- a structure formed during plant-cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles fusing at the metaphase plate; will ultimately lead to formation of a cell wall to separate the two daughter cells
- centriole
- a paired rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome
- cleavage furrow
- a constriction formed by the actin ring during animal-cell cytokinesis that leads to cytoplasmic division
- cytokinesis
- the division of the cytoplasm following mitosis to form two daughter cells
- diploid
- describes a cell, nucleus, or organism containing two sets of chromosomes (2n)
- FtsZ
- a tubulin-like protein component of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton that is important in prokaryotic cytokinesis (name origin: Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z)
- G0 phase
- a cell-cycle phase distinct from the G1 phase of interphase; a cell in G0 is not preparing to divide
- G1 phase
- (also, first gap) a cell-cycle phase; first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis
- G2 phase
- (also, second gap) a cell-cycle phase; third phase of interphase where the cell undergoes the final preparations for mitosis
- gamete
- a haploid reproductive cell or sex cell (sperm or egg)
- gene
- the physical and functional unit of heredity; a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific peptide or RNA molecule
- genome
- the entire genetic complement (DNA) of an organism
- haploid
- describes a cell, nucleus, or organism containing one set of chromosomes (n)
- homologous chromosomes
- chromosomes of the same length with genes in the same location; diploid organisms have pairs of homologous chromosomes, and the members of each pair come from different parents
- interphase
- the period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2 phases; the interim between two consecutive cell divisions
- kinetochore
- a protein structure in the centromere of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase
- locus
- the position of a gene on a chromosome
- metaphase
- the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are lined up at the metaphase plate
- metaphase plate
- the equatorial plane midway between two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase
- mitosis
- the period of the cell cycle at which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase
- mitotic phase
- the period of the cell cycle when duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and the cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes mitosis and cytokinesis
- mitotic spindle
- the microtubule apparatus that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis
- oncogene
- a mutated version of a proto-oncogene, which allows for uncontrolled progression of the cell cycle, or uncontrolled cell reproduction
- origin
- the region of the prokaryotic chromosome at which replication begins
- prometaphase
- the stage of mitosis during which mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores
- prophase
- the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle begins to form
- proto-oncogene
- a normal gene that controls cell division by regulating the cell cycle that becomes an oncogene if it is mutated
- quiescent
- describes a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell division
- S phase
- the second, or synthesis phase, of interphase during which DNA replication occurs
- septum
- a wall formed between bacterial daughter cells as a precursor to cell separation
- telophase
- the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by new nuclear envelopes
- tumor suppressor gene
- a gene that codes for regulator proteins that prevent the cell from undergoing uncontrolled division