Mitosis and Cell Division

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What is mitosis?

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Mitosis is the process in which a eukaryotic cell nucleus splits in two, followed by division of the parent cell into two daughter cells.

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What does the word 'mitosis' mean?

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The word 'mitosis' means 'threads,' referring to the threadlike appearance of chromosomes as the cell prepares to divide.

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What is the spindle in mitosis?

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The spindle is a specialized network of microtubules that extend from centrosomes, located at opposite poles of a cell, and attach to chromosomes during mitosis.

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What are the phases of mitosis?

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Mitosis consists of five phases: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

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What happens during prophase?

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During prophase, chromosomes condense, the mitotic spindle begins to develop, and centrosomes move toward opposite poles.

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What happens during prometaphase?

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During prometaphase, the nuclear membrane breaks down, and spindle microtubules attach to chromosomes at the kinetochore.

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What happens during metaphase?

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During metaphase, chromosomes align along the cell equator, and the spindle is complete with kinetochore, interpolar, and astral microtubules.

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What happens during anaphase?

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During anaphase, sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles, driven by changes in microtubule length.

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What happens during telophase?

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During telophase, chromosomes arrive at the poles, the mitotic spindle disassembles, and new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes.

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What is cytokinesis?

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Cytokinesis is the process that splits the parent cell into two identical daughter cells, involving the formation of a cleavage furrow.