Concepts of Biology – 1st Canadian Edition

Glossary

anaphase: the stage of mitosis during which sister chromatids are separated from each other

cell cycle: the ordered sequence of events that a cell passes through between one cell division and the next

cell cycle checkpoints: mechanisms that monitor the preparedness of a eukaryotic cell to advance through the various cell cycle stages

cell plate: a structure formed during plant-cell cytokinesis by Golgi vesicles fusing at the metaphase plate; will ultimately lead to formation of a cell wall to separate the two daughter cells

centriole: a paired rod-like structure constructed of microtubules at the center of each animal cell centrosome

cleavage furrow: a constriction formed by the actin ring during animal-cell cytokinesis that leads to cytoplasmic division

cytokinesis: the division of the cytoplasm following mitosis to form two daughter cells

G0 phase: a cell-cycle phase distinct from the G1 phase of interphase; a cell in G0 is not preparing to divide

G1 phase: (also, first gap) a cell-cycle phase; first phase of interphase centered on cell growth during mitosis

G2 phase: (also, second gap) a cell-cycle phase; third phase of interphase where the cell undergoes the final preparations for mitosis

interphase: the period of the cell cycle leading up to mitosis; includes G1, S, and G2 phases; the interim between two consecutive cell divisions

kinetochore: a protein structure in the centromere of each sister chromatid that attracts and binds spindle microtubules during prometaphase

metaphase plate: the equatorial plane midway between two poles of a cell where the chromosomes align during metaphase

metaphase: the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes are lined up at the metaphase plate

mitosis: the period of the cell cycle at which the duplicated chromosomes are separated into identical nuclei; includes prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase

mitotic phase: the period of the cell cycle when duplicated chromosomes are distributed into two nuclei and the cytoplasmic contents are divided; includes mitosis and cytokinesis

mitotic spindle: the microtubule apparatus that orchestrates the movement of chromosomes during mitosis

prometaphase: the stage of mitosis during which mitotic spindle fibers attach to kinetochores

prophase: the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense and the mitotic spindle begins to form

quiescent: describes a cell that is performing normal cell functions and has not initiated preparations for cell division

S phase: the second, or synthesis phase, of interphase during which DNA replication occurs

telophase: the stage of mitosis during which chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, decondense, and are surrounded by new nuclear envelopes

This post was last modified on November 26, 2024 4:47 am