Cell Division Key Terms

chromosome

a doubled rod of condensed chromatin; contains DNA that carries genetic information.

zygote

a fertilized egg, produced by the joining of a sperm and an egg

asexual reproduction

a reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent

haploid

an organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes

somatic cell

body cell

mitosis

cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

egg

female sex cell

telophase

last phase of mitosis, chromosome are in two new cells and nuclear membranes start to reform

sperm

male sex cell

diploid

of a cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes or twice the haploid number

sister chromatid

one of a pair of identical chromosomes created before a cell divides

daughter cell

one of two cells resulting from the division of a single cell.

parent cell

original cell before cell division

sexual reproduction

process in which genetic material from two parents combines and produces offspring that differ genetically from either parent

cell cycle

series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide

gamete

sex cell

germ cell

the cell that undergoes meiosis (in humans, only found in the ovaries and testes)

cytokinesis

the final stage of the cell cycle, in which the cell's cytoplasm divides, distributing the organelles into each of the two new cells.

prophase

the first stage of mitosis

interphase

the first stage of the cell cycle

metaphase

the second stage of mitosis

anaphase

the third phase of mitosis, during which the chromosome pairs separate and move toward opposite poles

cancer

uncontrolled cell dIvision

spindle

(biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division