Glossary
Asexual Reproduction: reproduction that occurs without sex
Anaphase: the sister chromatids (each half of the orange X) separate towards opposite poles pulled by the blue spindle fibers.
Cancer: uncontrolled mitotic cell growth
Centromere: region that lies approximately in the center of the chromatids
Cytokinesis: follows mitosis and is sometimes considered its own phase. The cytoplasm is divided between the two new cells. You can see the cell membrane (light blue line surrounding the cell) cleaving or pinching in two to split into two new identical cells
Gametes: sex cells (sperm or egg)
Metaphase: the chromosomes represented by the orange X shapes, align in the metaphase plate or along the center of the cell. The blue spindles from each side are attached to the kinetochore, also known as the center of the chromosome.
Metastasis: when cells that break away from the tumor begin to spread to surrounding tissues (via the bloodstream or lymph) and start new tumors
Prometaphase: the nuclear envelope disassembles represented by the dashed light green circle in the center of the cell. The chromosome forms two kinetochores at the centromere (in the center of the orange Xs) and the microtubules (blue fiber-like structures) attach to the chromosomes (shown as the orange Xs).
Prophase: the nucleolus disappears, represented by the green dashed line around the nucleus. The chromatin also condenses into chromosomes, which is represented by the X shapes in the center in the color orange. Along the outer edge of the cell you can see the separation of entrosome and formation of the miotic spindle, shown in blue.
Sister Chromatids: body cells
Somatic Cells: each chromosome holds two copies of each gene, with one gene on each sister chromatid
Telophase: new nuclear envelope forms, shown as the dashed green circles, one for each new cell. The chromosomes unfold back into chromatin represented by the orange dots and mass in the two new nuclei. The nucleoli (yellow shading in the center of the two new nuclei) reappear and the cell continues to elongate.
Grant and Other Information
Except where otherwise noted, this work by The Community College Consortium for Bioscience Credentials is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Text from BioBook licensed under CC BY NC SA and Boundless Biology Open Textbook licensed under CC BY SA. Modified by Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Instructional design by Nicole Lipscomb, M.S., Helen Dollyhite, M.A., Irene Yee Chief, Ph.D., Caroline Smith, M.A., and Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Subject Matter Expert: Tiffany Davis and Alice Rudolph, M.A. for c3bc.
Media and interactive objects by Jose deCastro, Brittany Clark, John Reece and Lucious Oliver, II for c3bc.
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