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Dillon - Cell Cycle
Term | Definition |
---|---|
centromere | a region of the condensed chromosome that looks pinched |
chromosome | one long continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes along with regulatory information |
cancer | the common name for a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division |
apoptosis | a programmed cell death; it occurs when internal or external signals activate genes that help produce self-destruction enzymes |
stem cells | unique types of body cells that have the ability to divide and renew themselves for long periods of time |
metaphase | the spindle fibers attach to a protein structure on the centromere of each chromosome and align the chromosome along the cell equator, around the MIDDLE of the cell |
prophase | chromatin condenses into tightly coiled chromosomes |
carcinogen | includes tobacco smoke and certain air pollutants which are both associated with lung cancer |
telomere | protective "caps" on the ends of each strand of DNA that protect the chromosomes |
chromatid | half of a duplicated chromosome |
cell cycle | the regular pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells |
chromatin | the loose combination of DNA and proteins |
telophase | a complete set of identical chromosomes positioned at each pole (end) of the cell |
anaphase | sister chromatids separate from each other; the spindle fibers begin to shorten, which pulls the sister chromatids AWAY from each other and toward opposite sides of the cell |
cytokinesis | the process that divides the cell's cytoplasm |
mitosis | the division of the cell nucleus and its contents |
binary fission | the asexual reproduction of a single-celled organism by division into two roughly equal parts |
metastasize | cells break away from cancer cell; spreads to other parts of the body |
benign (tumor) | not malignant (or cancerous); does not invade tissues or spread to other parts of the body |
malignant (tumor) | cancerous tumor; invades surrounding tissues and may spread to other parts of the body |
asexual reproduction | the creation of offspring from a single parent and does not involve the joining of gametes (sex cells - egg & sperm) |