centromere / point at which 2 sister chromatids are attached to each other
cell plate / newly formed cell wall between 2 daughter plant cells
chromosome / DNA tightly coiled with proteins
chromatin / DNA molecule wound around proteins
invisible during interphase
chromatid / one of a pair of duplicated chromosomes
cleavage furrow / pinching in of cell membrane in telophase and cytokinesis
asexual reproduction / binary fission in prokaryotes
parent cell divides to form 2 daughter cells
daughter cells / 2 genetically identical cells produced by mitosis
sexual reproduction / offspring get DNA from both parent organisms
parent cell / the original cell that goes through mitosis
cell cycle / process cell goes through as it grows and divides
spindle / fibers that form between centrioles and chromosomes that move chromosomes around during mitosis
stem cell / an undifferentiated cell….a cell that does not have a specific job yet
blastocyst / 5-7 day old embryo
tumor / mass of cancer cells….can be benign (stays in one place) or malignant (cells can spread to other parts of body)
embryo / fertilized egg cell
pluripotent stem cells / stem cells that can become any type of cell in the body
apoptosis / cell suicide mechanism
differentiation / process of stem cells becoming cells with specific jobs
multipotent stem cells / stem cells that can become a limited number of types of cells
cyclins / proteins that regulate cell cycle
cancer / disease characterized by uncontrolled cell division
mutation / change in DNA sequence
proto-onco gene / gene that promotes cell division…
with mutation, becomes onco gene
tumor suppressor gene / gene that limits cell division….with mutation, stops acting
telomeres / repeated DNA sequences at ends of chromosomes that protect it from wear and tear during division