Term | Definition |
cell cycle | the 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 |
histone | a group of proteins that each chromosome is associated with |
chromatin | the loose combination of DNA and proteins |
chromatid | half of the duplicated chromosome |
centromere | the substance that holds sister chromatids together |
telomere | the structure at the end of DNA molecules |
prophase | the phase in which chromatin condense into tightly coiled chromosomes |
metaphase | the phase in which spindle fibers attach to a protein structure on the centromere of each chromosome and align the chromosomes along the cell equator |
anaphase | the phase in which sister chromatids separate from each other |
telophase | the phase in which a complete set of identical chromosomes is positioned at each pole of the cell |
growth factor | a broad group of proteins that stimulate cell division |
apoptosis | programed cell death |
cancer | the common name for a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division |
benign | type of tumor where the cancer cell typically remain clustered together |
malignant | a type of tumor in which some of the cancer cells can break away |
metastasize | the breaking away of cancer cells |
carcinogen | substances that are known to produce or promote the development of cancer |
asexual reproduction | the creation of offspring from a single parent and does not involve the joining of gametes |
binary fission | the asexual reproductions of a single-celled organism by division into two roughly equal parts |
tissue | groups of cells that work together to perform a single function |
organ | groups of tissues that work together to perform a specific function or related functions |
organ system | organs that carry out similar function are grouped into this |
cell differentiation | the process by which unspecialized cells develop into their mature forms and functions |
stem cell | a unique type of body cell that has the ability to (1) divide and renew itself for long periods of time, (2) remain undifferentiated in form, and (3) develop into a variety of specialized cell types |