Cell Division and Reproduction Quiz

Cell Division and Reproduction

• Cell division is the process by which a single cell divides, resulting in two new daughter cells.
• Asexual reproduction involves one parent, yielding genetically identical offspring.
• Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of cells from two parents, forming a new organism's first cell.

Chromosomes and Chromatin

• Chromosomes are threadlike structures made of DNA and protein, containing genetic information.
• In eukaryotes, chromosomes reside in the nucleus, whereas prokaryotes have them in the cytoplasm.
• Chromatin is the complex of DNA and proteins (histones) found in eukaryotic chromosomes.

Cell Cycle and Phases

• The cell cycle consists of events where a cell grows, prepares for division, and divides into daughter cells.
• Interphase is the phase between cell divisions, focusing on growth and preparation.
• Mitosis is the process of nucleus division in eukaryotic cells, followed by cytokinesis, which divides the cytoplasm.

Stages of Mitosis

• Prophase is the first phase where genetic material condenses, making chromosomes visible.
• Metaphase involves chromosomes aligning at the cell's center.
• Anaphase is where sister chromatids separate and move to opposite cell poles.
• Telophase sees the chromosomes beginning to spread out into chromatin.

Regulatory Proteins and Cancer

• Growth factors are external proteins that stimulate cell growth and division.
• Cyclins regulate the eukaryotic cell cycle by influencing developmental processes.
• Apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, a crucial process for removing unhealthy cells.
• Cancer is a disorder where cells lose control over their growth, leading to unregulated division.

Tumors and Embryonic Development

• A tumor is a mass of rapidly dividing cells that can impair neighboring tissues.
• An embryo is the early developmental stage of multicellular organisms.
• Differentiation is when cells specialize in structure and function during development.

Stem Cells and Potency

• Totipotent cells can differentiate into any cell type in the body.
• Blastocyst is an early developmental stage in mammals, characterized by a hollow ball of cells.
• Pluripotent cells can become most, but not all, cell types in the organism.
• Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into one or more cell types.
• Multipotent cells have a restricted ability to turn into multiple types of specialized cells.