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24.5: Key Terms

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    146296
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    anaphase
    stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are separated from each other
    binary fission
    prokaryotic cell division process
    cell cycle
    ordered series of events involving cell growth and cell division that produces two new daughter cells
    cell plate
    structure formed during plant cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles, forming a temporary structure (phragmoplast) and fusing at the metaphase plate; ultimately leads to the formation of cell walls that separate the two daughter cells
    centriole
    rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome
    centromere
    region at which sister chromatids are bound together; a constricted area in condensed chromosomes
    chromatid
    single DNA molecule of two strands of duplicated DNA and associated proteins held together at the centromere
    cleavage furrow
    constriction formed by an actin ring during cytokinesis in animal cells that leads to cytoplasmic division
    condensin
    proteins that help sister chromatids coil during prophase
    cytokinesis
    division of the cytoplasm following mitosis that forms two daughter cells.
    diploid
    cell, nucleus, or organism containing two sets of chromosomes (2n)
    FtsZ
    tubulin-like protein component of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton that is important in prokaryotic cytokinesis (name origin: Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z)
    G0 phase
    distinct from the G1 phase of interphase; a cell in G0 is not preparing to divide
    G1 phase
    (also, first gap) first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis
    G2 phase
    (also, second gap) third phase of interphase during which the cell undergoes final preparations for mitosis
    gamete
    haploid reproductive cell or sex cell (sperm, pollen grain, or egg)
    gene
    physical and functional unit of heredity, a sequence of DNA that codes for a protein.
    genome
    total genetic information of a cell or organism
    haploid
    cell, nucleus, or organism containing one set of chromosomes (n)
    histone
    one of several similar, highly conserved, low molecular weight, basic proteins found in the chromatin of all eukaryotic cells; associates with DNA to form nucleosomes
    homologous chromosomes
    chromosomes of the same morphology with genes in the same location; diploid organisms have pairs of homologous chromosomes (homologs), with each homolog derived from a different parent
    interphase
    period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2 phases (the interim period between two consecutive cell divisions)
    karyokinesis
    mitotic nuclear division
    kinetochore
    protein structure associated with the centromere of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase
    locus
    position of a gene on a chromosome
    metaphase
    stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are aligned at the metaphase plate
    metaphase plate
    equatorial plane midway between the two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase
    mitosis
    (also, karyokinesis) period of the cell cycle during which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase
    mitotic phase
    period of the cell cycle during which duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes karyokinesis (mitosis) and cytokinesis
    mitotic spindle
    apparatus composed of microtubules that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis
    nucleosome
    subunit of chromatin composed of a short length of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins
    origin
    (also, ORI) region of the prokaryotic chromosome where replication begins (origin of replication)
    p21
    cell-cycle regulatory protein that inhibits the cell cycle; its levels are controlled by p53
    p53
    cell-cycle regulatory protein that regulates cell growth and monitors DNA damage; it halts the progression of the cell cycle in cases of DNA damage and may induce apoptosis
    prometaphase
    stage of mitosis during which the nuclear membrane breaks down and mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores
    prophase
    stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle begins to form
    quiescent
    refers to a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell division
    S phase
    second, or synthesis, stage of interphase during which DNA replication occurs
    septum
    structure formed in a bacterial cell as a precursor to the separation of the cell into two daughter cells
    telophase
    stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by a new nuclear envelope

    24.5: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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