Mitosis and meiosis

• interphase


  phase before mitosis; growth of cell and preparation for division
• prophase


  chromatin condenses into chromosomes, nuclear envelope disappears, spindle fibers start to form
• G1


  growth and functioning
• Synthesis


  DNA replicates
• G2


  organelles replicate in preparation for division
• metaphase


  chromosomes, chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell
• anaphase


  the sister chromatids seperate into individual chromosomes and are moved apart
• telophase


  chromosomes return to chromatin; nuclear membranes form; cleavage furrow begins
• cytokinesis


  splitting of the cytoplasm
• mitosis


  splitting of the nucleus
• sister chromatids


  Replicated forms of a chromosome joined together by the centromere and eventually separated
• centromere


  area connecting sister chromatids
• spindle fibers


  microtubules that extend from the centrioles and guide chromosome movement
• nucleus


  organelle that initiates cell division
• somatic cell


  all human body cells; not the gametes
• diploid


  having two sets of chromosomes; all somatic cells
• haploid


  having one set of chromosomes; the gametes
• gamete


  sex cell; egg or sperm
• zygote


  fertilized egg
• sexual


  reproduction combining genetic info from two parents
• asexual


  reproduction by one parent as a result of cell division
• cell plate


  forms in plant cells to form new cell membrane and cell wall
• meiosis


  cell division producing gametes
• variation


  differences in members of a population
• homologous pair


  each of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes