40%DNA and 60%protein structures carrying genetic information in the form of genes; coiled up chromatin

chromosome

protein balls found in chromatin that DNA wraps around to give it structure

Histones

one long half of a duplicated chromosome (X), sisters

chromatid

the point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division (holds sister chromatids together)

centromere

a chromosome involved with determining the sex of an organism, typically one of two kinds (2 out of 46 X's)

sex chromosomes

any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome (44 out of 46 X's)

autosomes

chromosome pairs, one from each parent, that are similar in length, gene position, and centromere location

homologous chromosomes (homologs)

a picture of all the paired up chromosomes in size order (sex chromosomes last, bottom right)

karyotype

containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, body cell (somatic)

diploid

having a single set of unpaired chromosomes, sex cell (gamete)

haploid

a kind of asexual reproduction. It is the most common form of reproduction in prokaryotes, to split into two cells, a type of mitosis

binary fission

a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, makes body cells

mitosis

proteins that aids DNA in function ex. DNA helicase

nonhistones

a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, production of gametes and plant spores

meiosis

sex cell; an egg or a sperm cell

gamete

the resting phase between mitotic divisions of a cell, includes G1, S, G2

interphase

the cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells (cell plate or cleavage furrow formations)

cytokinesis

the first stage of cell division, 1. chromatin coils up into condensed chromosomes 2. nuclear envelope disappears 3. centrioles move away from each other 4. centrioles start shooting out spindle fibers

prophase

microtubules (protein tubes) that push and pull chromosomes during cell division

spindle fibers

the second stage of cell division, chromosomes become attached to the spindle fibers and are moved along equator of cell

metaphase

third stage of cell division in which the chromosomes move away from one another to opposite poles being pulled by the spindle fibers

anaphase

the final phase of cell division, 1. the chromosomes unwind back into chromatin 2. two nuclei are reformed 3. centriole pair move back together 4. spindle fibers disintegrate

telophase

a line that develops at the midpoint between the two groups of chromosomes in a dividing plant cell, turns into a cell wall; during cytokinesis

cell plate

"long and thin", unwound chromosomes, wound-up DNA around histones

chromatin

first part of interphase, when baby cell grows in size

G1 stage

only sometimes between G1 and S stages; when cell freezes growth and development (so if you damage this cell, there's no fixing it)

G0 stage

last part of interphase; when cell prepares to divide

G2 stage

middle part of interphase; when cell replicates its DNA (helicase, polymerase, ligase...etc); longest period in cell cycle

S stage

mitotic division; mitosis; when cell divides by P, M, A, T; last part of cell cycle

M stage

area around spindle fibers; especially in plant cells

centrosome

pair of star-like structures in animal cells that shoot out spindle fibers

centrioles

spindle fibers connected to the centromeres that push and pull chromosome X's

kinetichore fibers

spindle fibers connected to centrioles (at the poles) that are shot out

polar fibers

pinching in of animal cells during cytokinesis to split the cells into two

cleavage furrow

a body cell

somatic