MITOSIS

(In Greek, “mitos” means thread). It’s a mechanism in which a cell distributes its different components in equivalent amounts that have already been duplicated during interphase. Therefore, it’s also called as educational division.

Prophase

The chromatin threads (each chromosome is made up of two chromatin threads) become more tightly coiled or condense into discrete chromosomes, which can be observed with a light microscope.

Meaphase  (It’s the longest phase of mitosis)

The chromosomes are thickest and shortest because of further condensation.

The chromosomes become attached to the microtubules of the mitotic spindle at kinetochore, aligned at the equatorial plate. Exactly in the middle of the spindle.

Anaphase (Shortest stage)

The centromere* splits causing the sister chromatids to separate. The two free chromatids now begin to move towards the opposite poles.

Telophase

The  polar migration of daughter chromosomes is completed i.e., daughter chromosomes reach the end of the poles.

Daughter chromosomes also start to uncoil and become less condensed. As a result they again form chromatin threads.

Nuclear envelope, nucleoli, golgi complex and ER reappear. In this way two daughter nuclei form within the cell.

The nuclear division is followed by division of cytoplasm, which will result in the formation of two daughter cells.

Cytokinesis: In animal cells, cytoplasm divided by forming a cleavage furrow (because of absence of cell wall). Whereas in a plant cell it starts with the formation of a cell plate at the centre, which later extends into both the sides towards the periphery.