Cell Growth & Divison Glossary

cell division- when cells divide into two, new cells

cytokinesis- division of the cytoplasm during cell division

chromatid- one of two identical parts of a duplicated chromosome

centromere- area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached

interphase- period of the cell cycle between cell divisions

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

mitosis- a part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nuclues divides

spindle- fanlike microtubule structure that helps separate the chromosomes during mitosis

prophase- first and longest phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the oppostie sides of the nucleus

metaphase- second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell

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

telophase- fourth/final stage of mitosis, during which the chromosomes begin to disperse into a tangle of dense material

centriole- one of two tiny structures located in the cytoplasm of animal cells near the nuclear envelope

cyclin- one of a family of closely related proteins that regulate the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells

cancer- disorder in which some of the body's own cells lose the ability to control growth