THE PROCESS OF MITOSIS

The stages of the cell cycle can be broken down into five stages:

• Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase

Interphase  This is the resting phase of the cell cycle.  It is consist of G1, S, and G2 stages of the cell cycle.  During the S phase of Interphase, DNA is replicated.

Prophase  This is the first stage of mitosis. The chromosomes condense and become visible. The centrioles form and move toward the opposite ends of the cell called "the poles". The nuclear membrane dissolves. The mitotic spindle forms (from the centrioles in animal cells). Spindle fibers from each centriole attach to each sister chromatid at the kinetochore.

Metaphase This is the second stage of mitosis. The centrioles complete their migration to the poles. The chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell referred "the equator".

Anaphase This is the third stage of mitosis. Spindles attached to kinetochores begin to shorten. This exerts a force on the sister chromatids that pulls them apart. Spindle fibers continue to shorten, pulling chromatids to opposite poles. This ensures that each daughter cell gets identical sets of chromosomes

Telophase This is the fourth stage of mitosis. The chromosomes decondense. The nuclear envelope forms. Cytokinesis reaches completion and two daughter cells are created.