Cell-Cell Signaling
On a cell's surface, this specialized protein acts like a "lock" that only opens when the correct matching signal molecule fits into it.
Receptor
This is the very first stage of cell signaling, where a signal molecule from the outside physically meets and binds to a receptor on the cell.
Reception
What is the name of the process where a single cell physically divides its cytoplasm to split into two separate daughter cells at the very end of the cycle?
Cytokinesis
What is the name of this first phase of mitosis, where the DNA packs tightly into visible chromosomes and the nuclear membrane begins to disappear?
Prophase
What is the short, simple name for the disease where cells won't stop dividing and grow completely out of control?
Cancer
This is the general name for the chemical messengers, like adrenaline or insulin, that organs release into the blood to send signals to distant cells.
Hormones
This is the final stage of cell signaling, where the cell executes an action, such as turning on a gene or splitting in half, based on the message it received.
Response
Cells spend about 90% of their life cycle in this non-dividing phase, copying their DNA and growing before mitosis begins.
Interphase
In this phase of mitosis, the chromosomes line up perfectly down the middle or equator of the cell.
Metaphase
This is the general name for the body's natural chemical messengers, like adrenaline or insulin, that travel through the blood to talk to distant cells.
Hormones
This is the specific biological term for any chemical "key" or signal molecule that binds tightly to a receptor protein.
Ligands
This is the middle stage of cell signaling, where the message is converted and passed along inside the cell through a chain reaction of molecules.
Transduction
During which specific phase of interphase does the cell completely replicate and make an exact copy of its DNA?
Synthesis phase
During this phase, sister chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibers and move toward opposite ends of the cell.
Anaphase
During metaphase, where do the chromosomes line up inside the cell before they get split apart?
The middle
Cells use this term to describe the process of passing a message along an indoor chain reaction once the outside receptor gets triggered.
Transduction
During the transduction stage, these small, non-protein molecules (like cyclic AMP or calcium) act as middle-messengers to quickly spread the signal inside the cytoplasm.
Second messengers
These regulatory "stop signs" throughout the cell cycle make sure everything is running smoothly and without DNA damage before the cell is allowed to divide.
Checkpoints
What is the final phase of mitosis, where two new nuclear membranes reform around the separated sets of DNA?
Telophase
This is the very first thing that must happen in cell signaling, where a signal molecule meets up and locks onto the outside of a cell.
Reception
Because a single signal molecule can trigger a chain reaction that activates thousands of molecules inside, this helpful process multiplies the signal's strength.
Signal amplification
This is the term for the entire multi-step relay chain that a message follows from the moment it hits the receptor to the final action the cell takes.
Signaling pathway
What is the term for the dangerous, uncontrolled cell division that happens when a cell ignores these cycle checkpoints and won't stop multiplying?
Cancer
These football shaped structures, made of microtubule fibers, attach to chromosomes and physically move them around during mitosis.
Spindle fibers
This is the main reason a cell will pause at a checkpoint—it stops to look for errors or damage in this vital genetic material before making a copy of it.
DNA