MITOSIS - MADE SUPER EASY - ANIMATION

Definition: Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell divides its duplicated DNA to form two new nuclei.
Completion: Following mitosis, the cell undergoes cytokinesis, resulting in two individual cells.
Significance: Mitosis is an essential part of the cell cycle, enabling growth and repair in multicellular organisms.

Prophase
- DNA condenses and organizes into visible chromosomes.
- Microtubules begin to form from the centrosomes.
- The nucleolus, a structure within the nucleus, disappears.
Prometaphase
- Microtubules attach to the chromosomes, facilitating movement and alignment.
Metaphase
- Chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plane (metaphase plate).
Anaphase
- Chromosomes, now sister chromatids, separate and move towards opposite poles of the cell.
Telophase
- Nuclear membranes re-form around the two sets of chromosomes, signaling the end of mitosis.
- Two distinct nuclei are now present.

After the completion of mitosis, cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm and organelles into two new cells, fully completing cell division.

Definition: The cell cycle is the series of events that a cell goes through leading up to its division and replication.
Duration for Eukaryotic Cells: Typically, eukaryotic cells duplicate every 24 hours.

Interphase: The stage where a cell spends the majority of its life, performing normal functions and preparing for division.
Stages of Interphase:
1. G1 Phase (Gap 1):
  - The cell grows to nearly full size.
  - Performs specific biochemical functions essential for the organism’s survival.
2. S Phase (Synthesis):
  - Critical phase where the DNA in the nucleus is replicated.
3. G2 Phase (Gap 2):
  - The final growth stage.
  - The cell completes its growth and prepares for mitosis after duplicating its DNA and centrosomes.

Typical Duration: Mitosis lasts about 80 minutes for a typical eukaryotic cell.