Download Mitosis Vocabulary

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Mitosis Vocabulary
1. Binary fission
The form of cell division in Prokaryotic (bacteria) cells. This is simpler
and quicker than mitosis because there is only one ring shaped piece of
DNA to copy and send to the new cells.
2. Cell Cycle This term describes the three stages of the life cycle of a Eukaryotic cell:
Stage I
Interphase (normal activity/ chromatin doubles at end)
Stage II Mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase)
Stage III Cytokinesis (cytoplasm separates into two new cells)
3. Chromatin
A single, twisted thread of DNA used to direct cell activities. This is the
condition of the DNA during interphase while the cell is carrying out its
normal functions.
4. Chromosome
A doubled condensed coil of DNA which forms during late interphase.
It is easier for the DNA to move through the stages of mitosis in this
condensed form.
5. Chromatid
One half of a chromosome made of a single coil of DNA
6. Centromere
The point of attachment between two chromatids. The centromere
attaches to the spindle fibers during mitosis and helps chromatids move
to the opposite side of the cell during anaphase.
7. Somatic cells
These are cells that make up the body parts of a plant or animal
Ex: liver cells, toe cells, wing cells, leaf cells, root cells.
These cells have the normal or diploid number of chromosomes.
8. Diploid
This term describes the number of chromosomes in an organism’s
somatic (body cells).
Example: Humans have 46 chromosomes in their liver and lung cells so
46 is the diploid number of chromosomes in humans.
9. Haploid
This term describes the number of chromosomes in an organism’s
gametes (sex cells). It is always half the diploid number.
Example: Humans have 23 chromosomes in their sperm/egg cells so 23
is the haploid number of chromosomes in human sex cells.
10. Parent cell
The original cell being described.
11. Daughter cells The term used to describe the two new cells which form at the end of cell
division.
12. Cell plate
A structure formed in dividing plant cells during telophase – it
grows from the middle of the cell outward to join the old cell membrane.
13. Poles
The opposite ends (sides) of a cell. Chromatids move toward the
poles during anaphase.
14. Equator
The midline of the cell. Chromosomes line up on the equator of the cell
during metaphase.
Key Events of the Cell Cycle
(There are more details – this is just a memory device!)
Stage I
Interphase
Late interphase
Normal activity
Chromosomes double
Stage II
Mitosis (has four phases)
Prophase
Chromosomes visible
Metaphase
Chromosomes in Middle
Anaphase
Chromosomes pull Apart
Telophase
Two nuclei
Stage III
Cytokinesis
Cytoplasm separates
Meiosis Vocabulary
13. Gametes
These are the sex cells of an organism; female gametes are called egg
cells and male gametes are called sperm cells. These cells have the
haploid (1/2) number of chromosomes.
14. Fertilization
The joining of a sperm cell and an egg cell to form a fertilized egg.
15. Zygote
A fertilized egg.
16. Trait
A distinguishing characteristic that can be passed from one generation to
the next.
Examples: eye color, height, shape of leaf, color of flower, size of wing
17. Gene
A section of DNA (and therefore a section of a chromosome) that
controls one trait or characteristic. There is a gene for eye color, a gene
for shape of leaf, a gene for each enzyme in cellular respiration.
18. Homologous chromosome pairs Term used to describe a matching pair of
chromosomes that are the same size and shape and contains genes for
the same traits/characteristics.
One chromosome comes from the male parent and was in the sperm
cell; the other comes from the mother and was in the egg cell.
19. Meiosis
The form of cell division that results in gametes (sperm/egg). The parent
cell goes through two divisions creating four cells with half as many
chromosomes in each of the four new cells. Haploid sex cells form.