Cellular Reproduction Vocabulary
Unit 6
Anaphase – Phase of mitosis during which during which chromosomes separate and
each copy moves to one side of the cell.
Chromosome - Found in the nucleus of a cell. Contains DNA that is made of genes.
Carries hereditary information that is passed on to offspring.
Cytokenisis – phase of cell cycle during which the cytoplasm pinches in two. Two
daughter cells are now formed.
Diploid - Typical number of chromosomes in a body cell it has two of each
chromosome. Represented by 2n, 46 chromosomes is the diploid number for humans.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) – Nucleic acid that makes up chromosomes and stores
our genetic information. Contains codes to make proteins. Passed on from parent to
offspring.
Egg - Female gamete. Contains 23 chromosomes in a human.
Gamete – A haploid sex cell. Ex. Egg and Sperm
Gonad - Sex organs that make sex cells (gametes). Where meiosis occurs, ovaries in
females and testes in males.
Haploid – It is half the number of chromosomes in a body cell. Sex cells are haploid
and contain one copy of each chromosome. Represented by the letter n, 23 is haploid
for a human cell.
Homologous Pair – Two chromosomes that have the same genes on them. One comes
from your mother and one comes from your father. They line up together during the
first division of meiosis.
Interphase – Phase of the cell cycle during which the cell grows and does its job.
Toward the end of interphase DNA and organelles with be copied.
Meiosis - Type of cell division. Occurs in Gonads. Produces sperm and egg with half
the number of chromosomes.
Metaphase – Phase of mitosis during which the chromosomes line up down the middle
of the cell.
Mitosis - Type of cell division. Occurs with all cells. Same number of chromosomes as
parent cell. Produces identical daughter cells.
Ovary - Female Gonad. Produces egg cells.
Prophase – The first phase of mitosis during which the nuclear membrane disappears
and the chromatin condenses into rod-like chromosomes.
Sex cells - Gamete. Ex. Egg and Sperm
Somatic Cell – A diploid body cell. Ex. Skin cell, muscle cell, nerve cell
Sperm - Male gamete. Contains 23 chromosomes in a human.
Telophase – Phase of mitosis during which new nuclear membranes form around the
two sets of chromosomes and the DNA unwinds into chromatin.
Testes - Male Gonad. Produces sperm cells.
Variation - Differences in genetic make-up of an organism. Caused by meiosis, sexual
reproduction and crossing over.
What phase of mitosis is this?