stages of mitosis

Interphase

Waiting to divide

• genetic information is duplicated. These copies are attached to each other

Prophase

Chromosomes begin to condense and become visible and distinct

• spindles start to form in the cytoplasm

Prometaphase

The nuclear envelope begins to dissociate

• the spindle starts to interact with the condensed chromosomes via the kinetochore/polar micro tubules

• Movement of chromosomes

Metaphase

Chromosomes in the middle

• chromosomes align (via the duplicated centromere) at the metaphase plate

Anaphase

Chromatids pulled apart

• Centromeres divide with one of the copied chromosomes moving towards the pole

Telophase

Chromosomes reach the poles

• nuclear envelopes begin to reform

  • Nucleus is gone so no compartment

Cytokinesis

Genetic information has been separated by the end of telophase, but only after ___ are the cell contents divided