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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. |