Midterm part two Flashcards
Cell Division:
Essential for growth and repair in multicellular organisms.
Provides a means of reproduction in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotes (e.g., yeast, amoebae).
Genetic Continuity:
Parent cells yield essentially identical daughter cells through mitosis and bacterial division, ensuring continuity of genetic information.
Cell Cycle
The series of phases that a cell goes through from one division to the next, including interphase and mitotic phases.
Mitosis:
The process of nuclear division that results in two identical daughter cells.
Meiosis
A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four non-identical haploid cells.
Chromosome
A DNA molecule that contains genetic information, visible during cell division.
Ploidy
The number of sets of chromosomes in a cell (e.g., haploid = 1 set, diploid = 2 sets)
Haploid
Cells with one set of chromosomes (e.g., gametes).
Diploid:
Cells with two sets of chromosomes (e.g., somatic cells).
Chromatid
One of two identical halves of a duplicated chromosome; sister chromatids are identical.
Chromosome Segregation
The process of separating sister chromatids during cell division.
Spindle
The structure made of microtubules that separates chromosomes during mitosis.
Centromere
The region where sister chromatids are joined together.
Centrosome
The organizing center for microtubules.
Kinetochore
The protein structure on the chromosome where spindle fibers attach during cell division.