Mitosis and cancer Flashcards
Why do cells want to be small?
To maintain a big surface area to volume ratio
facilitate the movement of materials in and out of the cell across the plasma membrane.
What happens when a cell becomes too large?
The cell will divide into 2 cells called daughter cells.
What is cell division?
The process where a cell divides into 2 new daughter cells.
Do unicellular and multicellular organisms divide the same way?
No, they do not divide exactly the same way.
What type of organisms are unicellular?
Prokaryotes, such as bacteria.
What type of organisms are multicellular?
Eukaryotes, including plants, animals, and fungi.
How do prokaryotes divide?
Through a process called Binary Fission.
What is Binary Fission?
The process where a prokaryote duplicates its DNA and divides to form 2 new cells that are identical to the original cell.
In which organisms does binary fission occur?
Only in bacteria (prokaryotes).
What is the primary storage location of DNA in eukaryotic cells?
The nucleus.
How is DNA organized in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells?
Wrapped up into structures called chromatin and chromosomes.
Define chromatin.
Long strands of DNA wrapped around proteins.
Where is chromatin found?
In the nucleus of cells.
What do chromatin structures wrap up into?
Chromosomes.
What is the composition of chromatin?
Protein, RNA, and DNA.
Define chromosomes.
Structures that are packages of DNA.
What do chromosomes carry?
Genetic information to be passed from one generation to the next.
How many chromosomes are found in human somatic cells?
46 chromosomes or 23 pairs.
How many chromosomes are found in human sex cells?
23 chromosomes, with no pairs.
What are sister chromatids?
The two halves of the chromosome, each an exact copy of the other.
What is the function of the centromere?
A structure that holds the two sister chromatids together.
What is the cell cycle?
A cycle of cell growth and division.
What occurs during the cell cycle?
The cell grows, prepares to divide, and divides into two new daughter cells.
What are the two major parts of the cell cycle?
- INTERPHASE
- MITOSIS
What happens during interphase?
A period of cell growth and DNA replication.
What occurs during mitosis?
A period of cell division.
When would you want to increase cell growth and division?
Healing a wound and embryonic growth (growing a baby).
What is cancer?
Cancer is uncontrolled cell division caused by defects in the proteins that help control cell growth.
What are some causes of cancer?
smoking,
chewing tobacco,
radiation exposure,
other defective genes,
chemical exposure,
carcinogens (anything that causes cancer).
How do cancer cells spread?
by forming masses of tissue ,tumors, which block nutrients from reaching healthy cells, and via a process called metastasis where cancer enters the bloodstream and spreads to other parts of the body.
How can your body stop a cell from becoming cancerous?
During Interphase, the cell goes through checkpoints that stop unhealthy cells from entering mitosis.
What are the differences between benign and malignant tumors?
Benign tumors are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body, while malignant tumors are cancerous and harmful.
What is apoptosis?
a process of programmed cell death, a cell destroys itself if it doesn’t pass the checkpoint inspection during Interphase.
What are the three parts of Interphase?
1.) G1 Phase: Cell grows and proteins are made,
2.) S Phase: Cell duplicates its chromosomes and DNA is made, 3.) G2 Phase: Cell prepares to divide.
What are the four phases of mitosis?
The four phases of mitosis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase (PMAT).
What role do growth factors play in cell growth?
Growth factors are special proteins that direct cells to speed up or slow down the cell cycle, controlling cell growth and division.
