| Term | Definition |
|---|
| anaphase | the third phase of mitosis, during which the daughter chromosomes separate and move toward the poles of the spindle |
| angiogenesis | the formation of new blood vessels; mechanism by which cancer spreads |
| apoptosis | programmed cell death involving a cascade of specific cellular events leading to death and destruction of the cell |
| asexual reproduction | reproduction that requires only one parent and doesnt involve gametes |
| aster | short, radiating fibers produced by the centrosomoes in animal cells |
| benign | mass of cells derived from a single mutated cell that has repeatedly undergone cell division but has remained at the site of origin |
| binary fission | splitting of a parent cell into two daughter cells; serves as an asexual form of reproduction in bacteria |
| cancer | any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division |
| caspase | cell cycle regulatory enzyme that initiates apoptosis |
| cell cycle | series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide |
| cell plate | structure across a dividing plant cell that signals the location of new plasma membranes and cell walls |
| centriole | cell organelle, existing in pairs, that occurs in the centrosome and may help organize a mitotic spindle for chromosome movement during animal cell division |
| centromere | constriction where sister chromatids of a chromosome are held together |
| centrosome | central microtubule organizing center of cells. in animal cells, it contains two centrioles |
| chromatid | one of the two strands of a chromosome that become visible during meiosis or mitosis |
| chromatin | network of DNA strands and associated proteins observed within a nucleus that is not dividing |
| cyclin | protein that cycles in quantity as the cell cycle progresses; combines with and activates the kinases that function to promote the events of the cycle |
| cytokinesis | division of the cytoplasm following mitosis or meiosis |
| diploid (2n) number | cell condition in which two of each type of chromosome are present |
| growth factor | a hormone or chemical, secreted by one cell, that may stimulate or inhibit growth of another cell or cells |
| haploid (n) number | cell condition in which only one of each type of chromosome is present |
| histone | a group of proteins involved in forming the nucleosome structure of eukaryote chromatin |
| interphase | stage of the cell cycle during which growth and DNA synthesis occur when the nucleus is not actively dividing |
| kinetochore | an assembly of proteins that attaches to the centromere of a chromosome during mitosis |
| malignant | the power to threaten life; cancerous |
| metaphase | second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell at metaphase plate |
| metaphase plate | disk formed during mitosis in which all of the cells chromosomes lie in a single plane at right angles to the spindle fiber |
| metastasis | the spread of cancer from one place of origin throughout the body; caused by the ability of cancer cells to migrate and invade tissues |
| mitosis | cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes |
| mitotic spindle | microtubule structure that brings about chromosomal movement during nuclear division |
| nucleoid | region or prokaryotic cells where DNA is located; not bounded by nuclear envelope |
| oncogene | cancer-causing gene, a gene that induces cancer, or uncontrolled cell proliferation |
| p53 | a tumor suppressor gene that 1)attempts to repair DNA damages or 2) stops the cell cycle, or 3)initiates apoptosis |
| prometaphase | phase of mitosis during which the chromosomes are condensed but not fully aligned at the metaphase plate |
| prophase | first and longest phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the opposite sides of the nucleus |
| proto-oncogene | normal gene that can become an oncogene through mutation |
| RB | tumor suppressor genes whose protein interprets growth signals and nutrient availabilty before allowing the cell cyle to proceed |
| reproductive cloning | used to create an organism that is genetically identical to the original individual |
| signal | molecule that stimulates or inhibits an event in the cell cycle |
| sister chromatid | one of two genetically identical chromosomal units that are the result or DNA replication and are attached to each other at the centromere |
| somatic cell | body cell; excludes cells that undergo meiosis and become sperm or egg |
| telomere | tip of the end of a chromosome that shortens with each cell division and may thereby regulate the muber of times a cells can divide. |
| telophase | final stage of mitosis in which daughter celss are located at each pole |
| therapeutic cloning | used to create mature cells of various cell types. also, used to learn about specialization of cells and provide cells and tissue to treat human illness |
| tumor | cells derived from a single mutated cell that has repeatedly undergone cell division |
| tumor suppressor gene | gene that codes for a protein that ordinarily suppresses the cell cycle; inactivity due to mutation can lead to a tumor |
Combine with other sets
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