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DNA & Chromosomes
Biology
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Cell Cycle | Regular pattern of growth, DNA duplication, and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells. |
Mitosis | The division of the cell nucleus and its contents. |
Cytokinesis | The process that divides the cell cytoplasm. |
Chromosome | One long continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes along with regulatory information. |
Histones | Each of your chromosomes is associated with a group of proteins. |
Chromatin | Loose combination of DNA and proteins |
Chromatid | One half of duplicated chromosomes |
Centromere | Sister chromatids are held together |
Somatic cells | Also called body cells, make up most of your body tissues and organs. |
Gamates | Sex cells- ova, or eggs, in the female, and develop into gametes. |
Homologous chromosomes | Two chromosomes- one inherited from the mother, one from the father- that have the same length and general appearance. |
Autosomes | chromosomes that contain genes for characteristics not directly related to the sex of an organism. |
Sex chromosomes | Directly control the development of sexual characteristics |
Sexual reproduction | involves the fusion of two gametes that results in off-spring that are a genetic mixture of both parents. |
fertilization | actual fusion of an egg and a sperm cell. |
Diploid | Means a cell has two copies of each chromosome: one copy from the mother, and one copy from the father. |
Haploid | Means a cell has only one copy of each chromosome. |
Meiosis | Form of nuclear division that divides a diploid cell into haploid cells. |
Gametogenesis | Is the production of gametes. |
Sperm | The male gamete. |
Egg | The female gamete. |
Polar bodies | Cells with little more than DNA that are eventually broken down |
Bacteriophage | Takes over a bacteriums's genetic machinery and directs it to make more viruses. |
Nucleotide | Small units, or monomers, that make up DNA |
Double helix | Model, in which two strands of DNA wind around each other like a twisted ladder. |
Base pairing rules | Bases of the two DNA always pair up in the same way. |
Replication | Process by which DNA is copied during the cell cycle. |
DNA polymerases | Bond the new nucleotides together. |