Cell Vocab

cell division-the process by which cells multiply involving both nuclear and cytoplasmic division

chromatid-one of the usually paired and parallel strands of a duplicated chromosome joined by a single centromere

centromere-the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during mitosis and meiosis

interphase-the interval between the end of one mitotic or meiotic division and the beginning of another

cell cycle-the complete series of events from one cell division to the next

mitosis-process that takes place in the nucleus of a dividing cell, involves typically a series of steps consisting of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and results in the formation of two new nuclei each having the same number of chromosomes as the parent nucleus

prophase-the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis characterized by the condensation of chromosomes consisting of two chromatids, disappearance of the nucleolus and nuclear membrane, and formation of mitotic spindle

centriole-one of a pair of cellular organelles that occur especially in animals, are adjacent to the nucleus, function in the formation of the spindle apparatus during cell division, and consist of a cylinder with nine microtubules arranged peripherally in a circle

spindle-a spindle-shaped network of chiefly microtubular fibers along which the chromosomes are distributed during mitosis and meiosis

metaphase-the stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes become arranged in the equatorial plane of the spindle

anaphase-the stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes move toward the poles of the spindle

telophase-the final stage of mitosis and of the second division of meiosis in which the spindle disappears and the nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes

cytokinesis-the cytoplasmic changes accompanying mitosis

cyclin-any of a group of proteins active in controlling the cell cycle and in initiating DNA synthesis

cancer-a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis