Term | Definition |
cell cycle | the life cycle of a cell |
mitosis | in eukaryotic cells, a process of cell division that forms two new nuclei, each of which has the same number of chromosomes |
cytokinesis | the division of the cytoplasm of a cell; follows the division of the cell's nucleus by mitosis |
chromosome | in a eukaryotic one of the structures in the nucleus that are made up of DNA and protein; in prokaryotic the main ring of DNA |
histone | a type of protein molecule found in the chromosomes of eukaryotic cells |
chromatin | the substance that composes eukaryotic chromosomes; consists of DNA and RNA |
chromatid | one of the two strands of a chromosome that become visible during mitosis |
centromere | the region of the chromosome that holds the two sister chromatids together during mitosis |
telomere | the region at the tip of a chromosome; a region of repeating DNA sequences |
prophase | 1st phase of mitosis when chromatin condenses, the nuclear envelope breaks down, the nucleolus disappears, and the centrosomes and centrioles migrate to opposite sides of the cell |
metaphase | 2nd phase of mitosis when spindle fibers align the chromosomes along the cell equator |
anaphase | 3rd phase of mitosis during which chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite sides if the cell |
telophase | 4th phase of mitosis when a complete set of identical chromosomes is positioned at each pole of the cell, the nuclear membranes start to form, the chromosomes begin to uncoil, and the spindle fibers disassemble |
growth factor | programmed cell death |
apoptosis | a type of disorder of cell growth that results in invasion and destruction of surrounding healthy tissue by abnormal cells |
cancer | a type of disorder of cell growth that results in invasion and destruction of surrounding healthy tissue by abnormal cells |
benign | having no dangerous effect on health, especially referring to an abnormal growth of cells that are not cancerous |
malignant | cancerous tumor in which cells break away and spread to other parts of the body, causing harm to the organism's health |
metastasize | to spread by transferring a disease-causing agent from the site of the disease to other parts of the body |
carcinogen | substance that produces or promotes the development of cancer |
asexual reproduction | reproduction that does not involve the union of gametes and in which a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent |
binary fission | a form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size |
tissue | a group of similar cells that perform a common function |
organ | a collection of tissues that carry out a specialized function of the body |
organ system | two or more organs that work in a coordinated way to carry out similar |
cell differentiation | the process by which a cell becomes specialized for a specific structure or function during multicellular development |
stem cell | cell that can divide for long periods of time while remaining undifferentiated |