longest phase of meiosis, 90%, nucleolus disappears, mitotic spindle begins to form, chromosomes condense and become visible, sister chromatids formed, centrosomes move away from each other, homologous chromosomes connect to form the synaptonemal complex. this is called synapsis. when pieces of the chromosomes break, they exchange DNA in regions called the chiasmata, nuclear envelope fragments, synaptonemal complex disassembles in late prophase. kinetochores of chromosomes attach to microtubules.