Cell Cycle

• Interphase


  When a cell grows and makes a copy of its DNA
• Mitotic phase


  Cell separates its DNA into to sets and divides its cytoplasm, creating two daughter cells
• G1 phase


  When a cell grows physically larger, copies organelles, and makes molecular building blocks it will need later to reproduce
• S phase


  Cell synthesizes a complete copy of its DNA and duplicates the centrosome
• G2 phase


  Cell grows more and begins to reorganize its contents to prep for mitosis
• M phase is divided into mitosis and cytokinesis
• Mitosis


  When the nucleic DNA of a cell is condensed into chromosomes which are pulled apart by the mitotic spindle in 4 phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
• Cytokinesis


  When the cytoplasm of a cell splits in two, creating two daughter cells. Happens differently in plant and animal cells
• Contractile ring


  Band of cytoskeletal fibers that pinch the cell in two during animal cell cytokinesis
• Cleavage furrow


  Indentation produced as the contractile ring pinches the animal cell inward. Can exist because animal cells are squishy
• Cell plate


  Cell partition made up of plasma membrane and cell wall components delivered to the center of the cell by vesicles, which partitions the cell in two and lets it divide
• G0 phase


  Resting state where cells are not actively preparing to reproduce. Might be when they conduct signals like neurons or store glycogen like a liver cell. Might be a permanent state or might be ended with certain signals that make it start diving again
• A typical cell takes around 24 hours to divide, but can take less while being cultured
• Sister chromatids


  When chromosomes consist of two connected copies
• Prophase (early)


  Chromosomes start to condense, mitotic spindle begins to form, nucleolus disappears
• Mitotic spindle


  Structure made up of microtubules that grows between the centrosomes as they move apart. They move around the chromosomes during mitosis
• Nucleolus


  The part of the nucleus where ribosomes are made
• Prometaphase


  Mitotic spindle begins to capture and organize chromosomes, which get super compact, nuclear envelope breaks down, releasing the chromosomes, which start to get captured by microtubules
• Kinetochore


  Patch of protein found on the centromere of each sister chromatid
• Centromere


  Region of DNA where sister chromatids are most tightly connected
• Aster


  Structure made from microtubules extending from the centrosome towards the edge of the cell
• Metaphase


  When the spindle ha lined up all the chromosomes on the plate, where the two kinetochores for each chromosome are attached to microtubules from opposite sides of the cell
• Metaphase plate


  Where all the chromosomes get lined up by spindles
• Spindle checkpoint


  When the cell checks that all the kinetochores are properly attached to their microtubules to ensure that everything splits evenly
• Anaphase


  Sister chromatids are pulled apart along microtubules my motor proteins (kinesins) as the extra microtubules push to elongate the cell
• Telophase


  Mitotic spindle is broken down, two nuclei form, and the chromosomes inside of them return to their original stringy form
• Phophase phase

  
• Prometaphase phase

  
• Metaphase phase

  
• Anaphase phase

  
• Telophase phase

  
• Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own DNA outside of the nucleus. There isn't very much of it in comparison
• Nucleoid


  Region in a prokaryotic cell where most of the genetic material is stored, but not surrounded by a membrane
• Genome


  A cell's set of DNA, which almost all cells in the organism (and regular members of the species) share
• Histones


  Group of basic positively charged proteins that DNA wraps around, making it organized and more compact. It also plays a role in which genes are activated
• Chromatin


  The complex of DNA plus histones plus other structural proteins
• Decondensed


  When chromatin exists in long squiggly strands, how it spends most of its life
• Chromosome


  Condensed, separate linear pieces of DNA in eukaryotic cells (and circular in prokaryotes)
• Diploid


  When chromosomes come in homologous pairs (2n)
• Homologous pair


  A matched set of chromosomes