chapter 2 ๐ Flashcards
allele
One of various versions of the same gene (at the same locus) distinguished by small differences in the DNA sequence
apoptosis
A programmed series of events that leads to cell death (as a result of the dismantling of the internal contents of the cell by various enzymes, including caspases)
asexual reproduction
The process by which a single parent produces offspring and that does not involve fusion of gametes; a process that usually results in identical offspring
autosome
A chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
binary fission
The division of a cell into two cells without mitosis; a prokaryotic cell undergoes binary fission to form two identical daughter cells; a form of asexual reproduction
bivalent
A structure (visible in a cell during prophase I of meiosis) made up of two homologous chromosomes joined together
cell cycle
An ordered sequence of events in the life of a cell from when it was formed from a parent cell until its own division
cell division
The splitting of a cell into two new functioning cells
cell plate
The structure produced by dividing plant cells in the place where the new cell wall is forming
centriole
A minute rod-shaped organelle present in many resting cells, just outside the nuclear membrane that helps make the spindle fibres for cell division; a centrosome contains two centrioles; it is usually absent in plants
centromere
The waist-like constriction in a chromosome where the spindle fibres attach; it enables the movement of chromosomes during cell division
centrosome
An organelle containing a pair of centrioles; it duplicates during cell division, while the DNA is duplicating, and the two centrosomes then separate to opposite poles of the dividing cell; it produces the spindle during cell mitosis and meiosis, and one of the centrosomes goes into each daughter cell
chromatid
Daughter strand of a duplicated chromosome that is joined to another chromatid by a centromere
chromatin
An organised, loosely coiled complex of DNA and its proteins that is found in eukaryotic non-dividing cells; it is more compact than the DNA of prokaryotes; chromatin supercoils to become the chromosomes observable during eukaryotic cell division
chromosome
A structure composed of DNA and protein that contains linear arrays of genes carrying genetic information; prokaryotes generally have one circular chromosome, whereas eukaryotes have a number of linear chromosomes
cleavage
The division of the cytoplasm in an animal cell
cleavage furrow
A shallow, ring-like depression that forms on the surface of an animal cell undergoing cytokinesis as contractile microfilaments pull the cell membrane inward; it defines where the cytoplasm will be divided to make two cells
crossing over
The exchange of genetic material between maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes (of non-sister chromatids) that occurs during the first step of meoisis (prophase I)
cytokinesis
The division of the cytoplasm immediately after mitosis, meiosis I or meiosis II to create two separate daughter cells
differentiation
The process during development whereby newly formed cells become more specialised as they mature; an example of cell differentiation is the development of root tip cells of plants into phloem, xylem and root hairs; during the process of differentiation, cells gain specialised structures and functions
Diploid (2n)
Describes a cell or organism that has a genome that contains two copies of each chromosome; the diploid number of chromosomes is represented by 2n
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The information-containing molecule present in all living things that contains the instructions, written in a chemical code, for the production of proteins by the cell; the information it contains is sufficient for the making and maintaining of the organism; in addition, DNA is the genetic material that passes this information on to the next generation
Eukaryotic cell
A complex cell containing membrane-bound organelles,including a nucleus
Fertilisation
The fusion of haploid male and female gametes during sexual reproduction to produce a diploid zygote; the random union of gametes is known as random fertilisation