Term | Definition |
mitosis | Mitosis is a part of the cell cycle in which chromosomes in a cell nucleus are separated into two identical sets of chromosomes |
cytokinesis | is the physical process of cell division, which divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells. It occurs concurrently with two types of nuclear division called mitosis and meiosis, |
replication | The process of duplicating or producing an exact copy of a polynucleotide strand such as DNA. |
cell cycle | is the series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication of its DNA to produce two daughter cells |
chromosomes | are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells. |
chromatid | is one copy of a newly copied chromosome which is still joined to the other copy by a single centromerec |
centromere | is the part of a chromosome that links sister chromatids or a dyad. |
chromatin | is a complex of DNA and proteins that forms chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. |
diploid | containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. |
interphase | is the phase of the cell cycle in which a typical cell spends most of its life. |
crossing over | is the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes that results in recombinant chromosomes during sexual reproduction. |
tetrad | A group or set of four. A tetravalent atom, radical, or element. |
synapsis | is the pairing of two homologous chromosomes that occurs during meiosis. |
polar bodies | is a small haploid cell that is formed concomitantly as an egg cell during oogenesis, but which generally does not have the ability to be fertilized. |
gametogenesis | is a biological process by which diploid or haploid precursor cells undergo cell division and differentiation to form mature haploid gametes. |
gonad | an organ that produces gametes; a testis or ovary. |
gamete | a mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote. |
ovum/ova | a mature female reproductive cell, especially of a human or other animal, that can divide to give rise to an embryo usually only after fertilization by a male cell. |
sperm | In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and its subtype oogamy |
haploid | is the term used when a cell has half the usual number of chromosomes. |