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Ch 4 Vocab
BIOLOGY
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| cell cycle | regular pattern of growth, DNA duplication, and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells |
| mitosis | division of the cell nucleus and its contents |
| cytokinesis | process that divides the cell cytoplasm |
| chromosome | one long continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes along with regulatory information |
| histone | group of proteins that chromosomes are associated with that DNA wraps around |
| chromatin | loose combination of DNA and proteins |
| chromatid | one half of a duplicated chromosome, that when is combined with its identical is called sister chromatids |
| centromere | region of condensed chromosome that looks pinched and holds sister chromatids |
| telomere | made of repeating nucleotides that do not form genes and prevents the ends of chromosomes from accidentally attaching to each other, and helps prevent the loss of genes |
| prophase | chromatin condenses into tightly coiled chromosomes that consists of two identical sister chromatids |
| metaphase | spindle fibers attach to a protein structure on the centromere of each chromosome and align the chromosomes along the cell equator, around the middle of the cell |
| anaphase | sister chromatids separate from each other |
| telophase | complete set of identical chromosomes are positioned at each pole of the cell |
| growth factor | broad group of proteins that stimulate cell division |
| apoptosis | programmed cell death |
| cancer | common name for a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division |
| benign tumor | cancer cells typically remain clustered together |
| malignant | some of the cancer cells can break away from the tumor |
| metastasize | breaking away from a tutor |
| carcinogens | substances known to produce or promote the development of cancer |
| asexual reproduction | creation of offspring from a single parent and does not involve the joining of gametes |
| binary fission | asexual reproduction of a single-celled organism by division into two roughly equal parts |
| tissue | groups of cells that work together to perform a similar function |
| organs | groups of tissues that work together to perform a specific function or related functions |
| organ systems | organs that carry out similar functions |
| cell differentiation | process by which unspecialized cells develop into their mature forms and functions |
| stem cells | unique type of body cell that have the ability to, 1. divide and renew themselves for long periods of time, 2. remain undifferentiated in form, 3. develop into a variety of specialized cell types |