Mitosis & The Cell Cycle Crossword

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Across
  1. 4. The final stage of mitosis where the chromosomes arrive at the poles, decondense back into chromatin, and a new nuclear envelope re-forms around each set of chromosomes.
  2. 7. The physical process following mitosis (or meiosis) in which the cytoplasm divides, resulting in the formation of two separate daughter cells.
  3. 8. Tissue, Tissue composed of neurons and supporting cells (glia), specialized to transmit and process electrical and chemical signals (e.g., brain, spinal cord, nerves).
  4. 11. Deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in all organisms, consisting of two long chains of nucleotides coiled into a double helix, containing the genetic instructions for development and function.
  5. 12. Tissue, Tissue that forms covering and lining layers throughout the body and its organs, providing protection, secretion, and absorption (e.g., skin surface, lining of the gut).
  6. 13. cell, A cell containing two complete sets of chromosomes (2n), one set inherited from each parent, characteristic of somatic cells.
  7. 16. Tissue, Tissue composed of cells specialized for contraction, responsible for movement (e.g., skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle).
  8. 17. Differentiation, The process by which a less specialized cell (like a stem cell) develops into a more specialized cell type, acquiring a distinct structure and function.
  9. 18. Expression, The process by which the information encoded in a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, such as a protein or an RNA molecule.
  10. 20. Cell, An undifferentiated cell that has the capacity to divide indefinitely (self-renewal) and the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types.
  11. 22. The first stage of mitosis where the chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, the nuclear envelope begins to break down, and the mitotic spindle starts to form.
  12. 23. Signaling, The network of communication within a single cell, involving chemical messengers that relay signals from receptors on the cell surface or within the cell to the nucleus or other parts of the cell.
  13. 27. tissue, Tissue that supports, protects, and binds together other tissues and organs, characterized by having cells scattered within an extracellular matrix (e.g., bone, blood, fat, cartilage).
  14. 29. A structure composed of condensed DNA and associated proteins (like histones) that carries the genetic information of an organism, becoming visible during cell division.
  15. 31. chromatid, One of the two identical copies of a chromosome that are produced by DNA replication, joined together at the centromere before separation during anaphase.
  16. 32. All the contents of a cell outside the nucleus, enclosed by the plasma membrane, including the cytosol (the semi-fluid substance) and the organelles.
Down
  1. 1. A group of similar cells and their extracellular matrix that work together to perform a specific function (e.g., muscle tissue).
  2. 2. The long preparatory phase of the cell cycle before mitosis, during which the cell grows, performs its normal functions, and duplicates its DNA and centrosomes.
  3. 3. envelope, The double membrane that encloses the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, separating the chromosomes from the cytoplasm.
  4. 5. The stage of mitosis where the sister chromatids separate at the centromere and are pulled apart toward opposite poles of the cell by the spindle fibers, becoming individual chromosomes.
  5. 6. A type of protein (or RNA) that acts as a catalyst to speed up specific biochemical reactions without being consumed in the process.
  6. 7. The specialized region on a chromosome where the two sister chromatids are joined together and where the spindle fibers attach during cell division.
  7. 9. fiber, Microtubules that form the mitotic spindle, an apparatus responsible for moving and separating chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis.
  8. 10. cycle, The ordered series of events, including growth, DNA replication, and cell division, that a cell undergoes from its formation until it divides into two new daughter cells.
  9. 14. cells, The two (or four) new cells that result from the division of a single parent cell through mitosis or meiosis.
  10. 15. A cylindrical structure, typically found in pairs within the centrosome of animal cells, involved in the organization of the mitotic spindle.
  11. 19. System, A group of organs that work together to perform a broad physiological function essential for the survival of the organism (e.g., the digestive system).
  12. 21. The process of nuclear division in eukaryotic somatic cells that results in two nuclei, each genetically identical to the original nucleus; the M phase of the cell cycle, which includes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
  13. 24. The main microtubule-organizing center in animal cells, which duplicates during interphase and organizes the mitotic spindle during cell division.
  14. 25. The stage of mitosis where the chromosomes align at the center of the cell, forming the metaphase plate, and are attached to spindle fibers.
  15. 26. Signaling, The communication that occurs between two or more cells, often involving the release of signaling molecules by one cell that bind to receptors on another cell to trigger a response.
  16. 28. The complex of DNA and proteins (mainly histones) found within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, existing in a less condensed state during interphase.
  17. 30. A structure composed of two or more types of tissues that function together to perform a specialized physiological role (e.g., the heart, a lung).