mitosis and meiosis

Question 1

What is chromatin?

Answer 1

Complex of DNA and protein that forms chromosomes

Chromatin condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.

Question 2

What are chromosomes?

Answer 2

Structures in the nucleus that carry genetic information

Chromosomes are the condensed form of chromatin.

Question 3

What occurs during interphase?

Answer 3

Cell prepares for division by replicating chromosomes

Interphase is the beginning of the cell cycle.

Question 4

Define mitosis.

Answer 4

Process where a cell divides and replicates itself

Mitosis leads to the formation of asexual body cells.

Question 5

What happens during prophase?

Answer 5

Chromosomes pair up, nucleus begins to disappear, spindle fibers appear

Prophase is the first step of mitosis.

Question 6

What are sister chromatids?

Answer 6

Paired chromosomes during cell division

Each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids.

Question 7

What is the function of the centromere?

Answer 7

Holds sister chromatids together

Question 8

What are spindle fibers?

Answer 8

Net that holds chromosomes in place during cell division

Question 9

What occurs during metaphase?

Answer 9

Chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell or equator

Question 10

What happens in anaphase?

Answer 10

Sister chromatids split and are pulled to opposite sides of the cell

Question 11

What occurs during telophase?

Answer 11

Nucleus becomes visible, nuclear membrane begins to form, cells start to separate

Question 12

Define cytokinesis.

Answer 12

Cytoplasm divides, cell splits into two identical daughter cells

Question 13

What is cancer in relation to mitosis?

Answer 13

Uncontrolled mitosis caused by changes to DNA

Question 14

What is the cell cycle?

Answer 14

Cells’ life cycle including interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis

Question 15

What does interphase look like in a cell?

Answer 15

Nuclear envelope surrounds the nucleus

Question 16

What is the purpose of mitosis?

Answer 16

To make more cells for growth and repair

Question 17

List the four stages of mitosis.

Answer 17

• Prophase
• Metaphase
• Anaphase
• Telophase

Question 18

What is cytokinesis and how does it differ in plant and animal cells?

Answer 18

Physical process of cell division dividing cytoplasm into two daughter cells

In plant cells, cytokinesis forms a cell plate; in animal cells, it forms a cleavage furrow.

Question 19

Define genes.

Answer 19

Portions of DNA or chromosomes that code for specific traits

Question 20

What are homologous chromosomes?

Answer 20

Chromosomes of the same length carrying genes for the same trait

Question 21

What are gametes?

Answer 21

Sperm and egg cells/sex cells

Question 22

Define haploid.

Answer 22

Half the normal amount of chromosomes (n=23)

Question 23

Define diploid.

Answer 23

Normal amount of chromosomes (2n=46)

Question 24

What is meiosis?

Answer 24

Sex cell division resulting in gametes

Question 25

What is crossing over?

Answer 25

When chromosomes switch genetic information

Question 26

What is a karyotype?

Answer 26

Organized chromosomes into pairs by size

Question 27

What is nondisjunction?

Answer 27

When chromatids don't separate

Question 28

What are sex chromosomes?

Answer 28

XX is female, XY is male

Question 29

What are autosomes?

Answer 29

All chromosomes except sex chromosomes

Question 30

What causes genetic variation during meiosis?

Answer 30

Crossing over and independent assortment

Question 31

What is independent assortment?

Answer 31

Chromosomes separate and are randomly sorted into sperm or egg

Question 32

Compare and contrast mitosis vs. meiosis.

Answer 32

MITOSIS: Asexual, 2 identical daughter cells, 46 chromosomes MEIOSIS: Sexual, 4 different cells, makes gametes, 23 chromosomes

Question 33

What are the similarities between mitosis and meiosis?

Answer 33

Both involve cell division and include the stages PMAT