Cell Growth and Division Vocabulary

Question 1

-blast-

Answer 1

sprout, germ, bud

Question 2

-cyst

Answer 2

sac, puch, bladder

Question 3

multi-

Answer 3

many

Question 4

-potent

Answer 4

powerful, able to do

Question 5

toti-

Answer 5

entirely

Question 6

mitosis

Answer 6

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.

Question 7

cytokinesis

Answer 7

The cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells.

Question 8

chromatid

Answer 8

Each of the two threadlike strands into which a chromosome divides longitudinally during cell division. Each contains a double helix of DNA.

Question 9

centromere

Answer 9

The point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division.

Question 10

Interphase

Answer 10

The resting phase between successive mitotic divisions of a cell, or between the first and second divisions of meiosis.

Question 11

Cell cycle

Answer 11

The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication (replication) that produces two daughter cells.

Question 12

Prophase

Answer 12

The first stage of cell division, before metaphase, during which the chromosomes become visible as paired chromatids and the nuclear envelope disappears. The first prophase of meiosis includes the reduction division.

Question 13

centriole

Answer 13

A minute cylindrical organelle near the nucleus in animal cells, occurring in pairs and involved in the development of spindle fibers in cell division.

Question 14

spindle

Answer 14

Cell Biology. a spindle-shaped structure, composed of microtubules, that forms near the cell nucleus during mitosis or meiosis and, as it divides, draws the chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell.

Question 15

Metaphase

Answer 15

The second stage of cell division, between prophase and anaphase, during which the chromosomes become attached to the spindle fibers.

Question 16

Anaphase

Answer 16

The stage of meiotic or mitotic cell division in which the chromosomes move away from one another to opposite poles of the spindle.

Question 17

Telophase

Answer 17

The final phase of cell division, between anaphase and interphase, in which the chromatids or chromosomes move to opposite ends of the cell and two nuclei are formed.

Question 18

Internal regulators

Answer 18

An internal regulator is a special protein that permits the cell cycle to continue only when certain conditions have been met inside the cell.

Question 19

External regulators

Answer 19

External regulators are a type of genetic factor that influences cell functions.

Question 20

Apoptosis

Answer 20

The death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism’s growth or development.

Question 21

Cancer

Answer 21

The disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

Question 22

Differentiation

Answer 22

In developmental biology, cellular differentiation is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.

Question 23

Stem cells

Answer 23

An undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation.

Question 24

Pluripotent

Answer 24

(of an immature or stem cell) capable of giving rise to several different cell types.

Question 25

Multipotent

Answer 25

Having the ability to differentiate to a limited number of cell fates or into closely related family of cells.

Question 26

Embryonic stem cells

Answer 26

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they are able to grow (i.e. differentiate) into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm.

Question 27

Adult stem cells

Answer 27

Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. Also known as somatic stem cells, they can be found in children, as well as adults.