Structure of Chromosomes, Cell Cycle, and Cell Division Flashcards
define chromosomes
highly coiled and condensed chromatin fibres
define chromatin
the complex of DNA and proteins making up chromosomes is known as chromatin
constituents of chromatin
- DNA (40%)
- Histones (60%)
structure of DNA
each DNA strand consists of three repeating nucleotides which are made of- phosphate, pentose (sugar) arranged lengthwise, and a nitrogenous base attached to the sugar, which extends to join the other complementary nitrogenous base.
types of nitrogenous bases
- Adenine
- Guanine
- Cytosine
- Thymine
types of bonds between bases
- Adenine forms double hydrogen bond with Thymine
2 Guanine forms triple hydrogen bond with Cytosine
define histones
the proteins that help in the coiling and packaging of DNA into structural units called nucleosomes
define nucleosomes
the DNA strand winds around a core of 8 histone proteins (octamer), called nucleosome
structure of chromosomes
- contains two sister chromatids
- point of attachment of sister chromatids is called centromere
- centromere attaches spindle fibre during cell division
- spindle fibre contracts, sister chromatids re separated at centromere, and pulled away to the poles
- after cell division, chromatids decondense into chromatin fibres
define genes
specific sequence of nucleotides on a chromosome, that encode particular proteins which express in the form of some particular feature of the body
need for new cells
- growth
- replacement
- repair
- reproduction
where does mitosis occur
in cell divisions for growth, replacement and repair.
does not occur in reproduction (meiosis)
define cell cycle
the cell cycle is a series of events that take place in a cell leading to the duplication of its DNA and subsequent division of the cell to produce its two daughter cells
phases of cell cycle
- interphase: non-dividing phase
- mitosis/ M-phase: dividing phase
phases of interphase
- first growth phase (G1)
- synthesis phase (S)
- second growth phase (G2)