Term | Definition |
Cell Cycle | The sequence of events that occurs in a cell between divisions |
Chromatin | Long thin strands of DNA found in the nucleus |
Chromosomes | The duplicated strands of chromatin that happens during Interphase |
Chromatids | The thickened coiled up chromosomes in Prophase & Metaphase |
Centromere | The point where the chromosomes and chromatids connect |
Interphase | Part One of the Cell Cycle. DNA & chromosomes are duplicated; growth occurs; organelles are duplicated. |
Mitosis | Part Two of the Cell Cycle; division of the nucleus occurs. |
Prophase | First step of mitosis; chromosomes coil & thicken & become chromatids; centrioles migrate to the poles of the cell. |
Metaphase | Second step of mitosis; chromatids line up on the equator; spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromatids |
Anaphase | Third step of mitosis; centromeres separate; chromatids pull apart and become chromosomes |
Telophase | Fourth step of mitosis: two new nuclear membranes form at the poles; cytoplasm begins to divide |
Cytokinesis | Third part of the Cell Cycle; cytoplasm divides; animals form a protein belt; plants form a cell plate |
Centrioles | A barrel-shaped structures in animal cells that play a role in mitosis |
Diploid cells | Body cells that have pairs of chromosomes. |
Haploid cells | The sex cells that have a single set of chromosomes. |
Zygote | The cell created by fertilization. |
Meiosis | The process that halves the number of chromosomes and creates the sex cells. |
Asexual reproduction | A process which produces a new organism from a single parent; offspring are identical to the parent. |
Regeneration | Aprocess that re-grows lost or damaged body parts |
Budding | A new organism growing from the body of the parent |
Binary fission | Reproduction that occurs in prokaryotic cells; the DNA duplicates, then the cell splits. |
Sexual reproduction | A process where two organisms come together to produce a new organism that is genetically different. |