(interkinesis) n. the period when a cell is not undergoing division (mitosis), during which activities such as DNA synthesis occur.
n. a small particle found in the cytoplasm of cells, near the nucleus. Centrioles are involved in the formation of the *spindle and aster during cell division. During interphase there are usually two centrioles in the *centrosome; when cell division occurs these separate and move to opposite sides of the nucleus, and the spindle is formed between them.... centriole
n. one of the threadlike structures in a cell nucleus that carry the genetic information in the form of *genes. It is composed of a long double filament of *DNA coiled into a helix together with associated proteins, with the genes arranged in a linear manner along its length. It stains deeply with basic dyes during cell division (see meiosis; mitosis). The nucleus of each human somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes, 23 of which are of maternal and 23 of paternal origin (see illustration). Each chromosome can duplicate an exact copy of itself between each cell division (see interphase) so that each new cell formed receives a full set of chromosomes. See also chromatid; centromere; sex chromosome. —chromosomal adj.... chromosome
(fluorescence in situ hybridization) a technique that allows the nuclear DNA of *interphase cells or the DNA of *metaphase chromosomes, which are fixed to a glass microscope slide, to anneal with a fluorescent gene *probe. It is used for detecting and locating gene mutations and chromosome abnormalities.... fish
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