Biology Words

Cell Division- process by which a cell divides into two new daughter cells

Chromatid- one of two identical "sister" 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- part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides
Prophase- first and longest phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the opposite sides of the nucleus

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

Spindle- fanlike microtubule structure that helps separate the chromosomes during mitosis
Metaphase- second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell

Anaphase- the third phase of mitosis, during which the chromosome pairs and separate and move toward opposite poles
Telophase- fourth and final phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes begin to disperse into a tangle of dense material

Cytokinesis- division of the cytoplasm during cell division
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