mitosis

• Telophase is the final stage of mitosis, during which the nuclear membrane reforms around the separated chromosomes at each pole of the cell.
• Chromosome:

  • Rod-shaped structures made of DNA and proteins
  • Made of 2 chromatids
• Chromatid:

  • Each half of a chromosome
• Histone:

  • Proteins that help maintain the shape of a chromosome and aid in the tight packing of DNA
• Centromere:

  • The point in a chromosome that holds the 2 chromatids until they separate during cell division
• Chromatin:

  • DNA-protein complex
• Interphase:

  • The time between cell division in which cells grow, copy their DNA, and mature
• Cytokinesis:

  • The complete division of cytoplasm of a cell following telophase, occurring after mitosis and meiosis
• Prophase:

  • The first stage in mitosis and meiosis where chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane disassembles, spindle fibers appear
• Spindle fiber:

  • Fiber made of microtubules that aid in moving chromosomes during cell division
• Metaphase:

  • Second phase in mitosis or meiosis where chromosomes line up in the center of a cell and spindle fibers attach to the centromere
• Anaphase:

  • Third phase in mitosis and meiosis where chromosomes separate to opposite poles of a cell
• Telophase:

  • The final stage of mitosis or meiosis where a nuclear membrane forms around the new set of chromosomes, spindle fibers disappear, and DNA uncoils
• Cell plate:

  • Vesicle that forms at the middle line of a dividing plant cell
• Binary fission:

  • The division of a prokaryotic cell into two identical offspring cells
• Mitosis:

  • In eukaryotic cells, a process of cell division that forms 2 new identical nuclei, each with the same number of chromosomes
• Asexual reproduction:

  • Reproduction that does not involve the union of gametes and where a single parent produces genetically identical offspring
• Cell cycle:

  • Regular pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division in eukaryotic cells
• Telomere:

  • Repeating nucleotide at the ends of DNA molecules that help prevent the loss of genes
• Apoptosis:

  • Programmed cell death
• Cancer:

  • Any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division
• 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
• Tissue:

  • A group of similar cells that perform the same function
• Organ:

  • Group of tissues that work together to perform closely related functions
• Organ system:

  • Group of organs that work together to perform a specific function
• Cell differentiation:

  • The process by which a cell becomes specialized for a specific structure or function
• Stem cells:

  • Cells that can divide for long periods of time while remaining undifferentiated
• Autosome:

  • Chromosomes that contain genes for characteristics not directly related to the sex of an organism
• Diploid:

  • Two sets of chromosomes (2n)
• Fertilization:

  • Fusion of an egg and sperm cell
• Gamete:

  • Sex cells, sperm and egg (ova)
• Haploid:

  • Cell that has only one copy of each chromosome
• Homologous chromosome:

  • Chromosomes that have the same length, appearance, and copies of genes, although the alleles may differ
• Meiosis:

  • Two rounds of nuclear division that divides a diploid cell into haploid cells
• Oogenesis:

  • The production, growth, and maturation of an egg, or ovum
• Polar body:

  • A short-lived product of the formation of gametes by meiosis
• Sex chromosome:

  • Directly control the development of sexual characteristics