Final answer:
Mitosis consists of four main phases: prophase, where chromosomes condense; metaphase, where chromosomes align; anaphase, where chromatids separate; and telophase, where nuclei reform and the cell begins to divide into two.
Step-by-step explanation:
Phases of Mitosis
Mitosis is a critical process of cell division that allows one cell to divide into two genetically identical daughter cells. It is divided into several phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, each of which carries out specific functions to ensure proper cell division. Here is what happens in each:
- Prophase: Chromosomes condense and become visible. The nuclear envelope breaks down, and the spindle apparatus begins to form.
- Metaphase: Chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate, an imaginary line at the equator of the cell. Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of each chromosome.
- Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite ends of the cell as the spindle fibers shorten.
- Telophase: Nuclear envelopes re-form around the separated chromosomal sets, and the chromosomes begin to decondense. This is often considered along with cytokinesis, which is the division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells.
Each phase is crucial for the accuracy and success of cell division. Without a correct progression through these stages, daughter cells might end up with an incorrect number of chromosomes, leading to cell malfunction or disease states such as cancer.