Term | Definition |
Cell Cycle | The regular pattern of growth, DNA duplication, and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells |
Interphase | When the cell appears to be at rest during the cell cycle. DNA is copied during this phase ("in between" cell division) |
Phases of Interphase | Gap 0 (G0), Gap 1 (G1), Synthesis (S), and Gap 2 (G2) |
G0, G1, G2 | Stages of Interphase where the cells are growing |
Chromosomes | One long continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes along with regulatory information |
Chromatid | One half of a duplicated chromosome |
DNA | Deoxyriboucleic Acid. Molecule that stores genetic information in all organisms. |
Sister Chromatids | Two identical chromatids held together by a centromere |
Centromere | Sister chromatids are held together here. ("Center" of a choromosome" |
Spindle fibers | Help align the chromosomes at the middle of the cell |
Centrioles | Help divide DNA during cell division by producing spindle fibers that attach to the DNA and pull it to one side of the cell. |
Diploid (2n) | Cell that has two copies of each chromosome, one from an egg and one from a sperm. |
Full set of chromosomes | Humans have 23 different chromosomes. Because we get one copy from our mother and one copy from our father we have 46 total chromosomes. |
Cell division / Cell growth | Cell division - a cell divides into 2 cells.
Cell growth - a cell increases it's organelles and DNA before division. |
Somatic cells | Cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes |
identical daughter cells | Cells produced from cell division that are genetically identical to the parent cell |
clone | Genetically identical copy of a single gene or an entire organism |