Chapter 8 - The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance

Q: Where do cells come from?
A: Cells are made from preexisting cells through the process of cell division.
Q: How do prokaryotic cells reproduce?
A: Prokaryotic cells reproduce by a type of cell division called binary fission.
Q: What are the three cellular cycles called?
A: G1, S, and G2 and mitosis are the four stages of a cell.

Five Main Facts:
1) All cells come from preexisting cells.
2) Interphase is where the majority of a cells life is spent.
3) Sister chromatids contain identical copies of DNA.
4) Mitosis consists of prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.
5) Anchorage, cell density and chemical growth factors affect the division of a cell.

This diagram shows metaphase. As you can see, the chromosomes are lining up on the metaphase plate so they will be able to be separated by the spindle fibers from the centrosome. 

Cell division is the basis for the reproduction of cells. Chromosomes are duplicated in order to make identical daughter cells. Cells are split into daughter cells through the process called mitosis. Meiosis is the production of sex cells. Four haploid cells are made from this process.

Key Terms:

1) Chromatin: combination of DNA and protein molecules

2) Centromere: two chromatids are joined together tightly at a narrow "waist"

3) Cell cycle: ordered sequence of events that extends from the time a cell is first formed from a dividing parent cell

4) Centrosomes: clouds of cytoplasmic material that in animal cell contain centrioles

5) Cleavage furrow: shallow groove in the cell surface

6) Cell plate: vesicles fuse to form a membranous plate

7) Growth factor: protein secreted by certain body cells that stimulate other cells to divide

8) Anchorage dependence: most animal cells must be in contact with a solid surface

9) Tumor: abnormally growing mass of body cells
10) Diploid cell: any cell with two homologous sets of chromosomes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kpR5RSJ7SA