Freshman Science Seminar
May 5, 2025
Unit 5 Intro & Vocabulary
Cell Growth and Reproduction
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Introduction: Cell Growth and Reproduction
Welcome to one of the most exciting parts of biology—cell growth and reproduction!
Every living thing, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest whale, is made of
cells. But how do these cells grow, divide, and create new life?
In this unit, we'll explore how cells:
* Grow and prepare for division,
* Copy their DNA with incredible accuracy,
* Split into new cells through processes like mitosis and meiosis,
* And how these processes help organisms develop, repair, and reproduce.
We’ll also see how errors in these systems can lead to problems, like cancer, and
why understanding cell reproduction is key in medicine, genetics, and even cloning!
By the end of this unit, you’ll be able to answer questions like:
* Why do your cuts heal?
* How do we grow from one cell to trillions?
* What’s the difference between how our body cells divide and how reproductive
cells are made?
Let’s dive into the microscopic world and uncover the secrets of how life grows and
continues—one cell at a time.
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Unit 6 Vocabulary
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🔬 Cell Growth and Reproduction Vocabulary
1. Cell Cycle – The regular sequence of growth and division that cells go
through.
2. Interphase – The longest part of the cell cycle when the cell grows,
copies its DNA, and prepares to divide.
3. Mitosis – A process of cell division that results in two identical
daughter cells (used for growth and repair).
4. Cytokinesis – The final step in cell division where the cytoplasm splits,
creating two separate cells.
5. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) – The molecule that carries genetic
instructions for life.
6. Chromosome – A structure made of DNA that contains genes; humans have 46
in most body cells.
7. Chromatin – Loose, uncoiled DNA found in the nucleus during interphase.
8. Chromatid – One half of a duplicated chromosome (sister chromatids are
identical copies).
9. Centromere – The part of a chromosome that holds the sister chromatids
together.
10. Meiosis – A special type of cell division that makes sex cells (sperm and
egg), reducing the number of chromosomes by half.
11. Gamete – A sex cell (sperm or egg) that contains half the number of
chromosomes (haploid).
12. Zygote – A fertilized egg formed when a sperm cell and egg cell unite.
13. Diploid (2n) – A cell with a full set of chromosomes (like most body
cells).
14. Haploid (n) – A cell with half the number of chromosomes (like gametes).
15. Asexual Reproduction – Reproduction that involves only one parent and
produces genetically identical offspring.
16. Sexual Reproduction – Reproduction involving two parents that results in
genetically unique offspring.
17. Cancer – A disease caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division.
18. Spindle Fibers – Structures that help move chromosomes during mitosis and
meiosis.
19. Centrioles – Organelles that help organize the spindle fibers during cell
division in animal cells.
20. Apoptosis – Programmed cell death, a natural process that helps remove
unneeded or damaged cells.
