All About Mitosis

1. All About Mitosis Biology 3201

2. Cell Division Glossary • Anaphase: The stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes move to opposite ends of the nuclear spindle. • Cell Cycle: The series of biochemical and structural events involving the growth, replication, and division of a eukaryotic cell. • Centromere: The most condensed and constricted region of a chromosome to which the spindle fiber is attached during mitosis. Also called kinetochore. • Chromatin: A complex of nucleic acids and proteins in the cell nucleus that stains readily with basic dyes and condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.

3. Cell Division Glossary cont’d • Chromosomes: A threadlike linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carries the genes and functions in the transmission of hereditary information. • Cytokinesis: The division of the cytoplasm of a cell following the division of the nucleus. • Daughter Cell: Either of the two identical cells that form when a cell divides. • Interphase: the interval between the end of one mitotic or meiotic division and the beginning of another called also resting stage.

4. Cell Division Glossary cont’d • Metaphase: The stage of mitosis and meiosis, following prophase and preceding anaphase, during which the chromosomes are aligned along the equator. • Mitosis: The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides, typically consisting of four stages, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and normally resulting in two new cells and nuclei, each of which contains a complete copy of the parental chromosomes. • Parent Cell: a cell which, in cell division, divides, and gives rise to two or more daughter nuclei.

5. Cell Division Glossary cont’d • Prophase: The first stage of mitosis, during which the chromosomes condense and become visible nuclear membrane breaks down, and the spindle fibers form at opposite poles of the cell. • Sister Chromatid: Any of the chromatids formed by replication of one chromosome during interphase of the cell cycle especially while they are still joined by a centromere. • Telophase: The final stage of mitosis or meiosis during which the chromosomes of daughter cells are grouped in new nuclei.

6. The Cell Cycle • Interphase is the growth phase of mitosis, in which the cell prepares for cell division, under rapid growth (G1), the DNA is replicated (S Phase), the centrioles replicate and the cell prepares to divide (G2).

7. The Cell Cycle • Interphase is the growth phase of mitosis. This includes 3 stages: • G1(gap 1) is where the cells carry out metabolic activity to prepare for cell division. • S Phase is where the DNA is replicated. This is the most important part of interphase because if this did not occur the daughter cells would only have half the chromosomes. • G2(gap 2) is where the centrioles replicate. The cell prepares for division.

8. Prophase • Prophase is the stage of mitosis in which the chromatin coils up to form chromosomes. The nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear. The centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell in this phase. Also, the aster microtubules appear and begin to form spindle fibers.

9. Metaphase • Metaphase is the stage of mitosis in which the spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes. The chromosomes are then guided to the equator of the cell by the spindle fibers. Each chromosome is attached to a spindle fiber.

10. Anaphase • Anaphase is the stage of mitosis in which the centomere splits and chromosomes move to the poles of the cell. This occurs as a result of the shortening of the spindle fibers.

11. Telophase • Telophase is the final stage of mitosis. In this stage the chromosomes unwind and become less visible. The spindle fibers disappear and the daughter cell nuclei form around chromosomes at the opposite ends of the dividing cell.