Questions and Answers
What is the process of nuclear division in eukaryotic cells that is conventionally divided into five stages?
Mitosis
What is the area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached?
Centromere
What are the bodies of tightly coiled chromatin that are visible during cell division?
Chromatids
What is the stage of mitosis where chromosomes coil, become shorter and thicker, and join at the centromere?
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What is the phase between mitosis stages where the cell grows and develops, and chemical changes leading to cell division take place?
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What is the stage of mitosis where chromosomes pair up and line up in the center of the cell?
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What is the stage of mitosis where chromosomes separate and move towards opposite sides of the cell?
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What is the stage of mitosis where new nuclear membranes form around the chromosomes, and the cytoplasm begins to divide?
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What is the process that completes the cell division process by dividing the cytoplasm into two daughter cells, each with a nucleus?
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What is the main purpose of mitosis?
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Study Notes
Mitosis Overview
- Mitosis is a type of nuclear division in eukaryotic cells, essential for growth and repair.
- The entire process consists of five stages: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
- Mitosis ensures the conservation of chromosome number, distributing replicated chromosomes equally to daughter nuclei.
Key Terms
Centromere
- The centromere is the region where two sister chromatids are joined together, crucial for chromosome movement during mitosis.
Chromatids
- Chromatids are the tightly coiled forms of chromatin visible during cell division.
- A chromosome comprises two chromatids linked at the centromere.
Stages of Mitosis
Interphase
- Occurs before mitosis, where the cell prepares for division through growth and DNA replication.
- Responsible for cellular activities that facilitate division, such as protein synthesis.
Prophase
- Chromosomes condense and become thicker, appearing as distinct structures.
- The nuclear membrane begins to disintegrate, centrioles move apart, and spindle fibers form, laying the groundwork for chromosome alignment.
Metaphase
- Chromosomes align in the cell's equatorial plane, with their centromeres positioned at the metaphase plate.
- Fully formed spindle fibers attach to sister chromatids from opposite poles of the cell, preparing for separation.
Anaphase
- Sister chromatids are pulled toward opposite poles of the cell as spindle fibers shorten.
- Centromeres divide, allowing chromatids to separate and move individually to either side of the cell.
Telophase
- New nuclear membranes form around the separated chromosomes, leading towards the end of mitosis.
- Cytokinesis begins during this phase, where the cytoplasm divides, ultimately resulting in two distinct daughter cells.
Cytokinesis
- The final step of cell division, where the cytoplasm separates, leading to the formation of two new daughter cells, each entering interphase.
- Ensures each daughter cell retains an identical nucleus.
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Description
Learn about the process of mitosis, including its stages and key terms, through flashcards. Understand the concepts of centromere, chromatids, and more.
