mitosis

Confused about any of the words used here?

You need to learn the names of the stages of mitosis. Remember IPMAT; interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.

Study the pictures and then go to the mitosis picture quiz and try to match the correct picture to the correct stage.

Also try the mitosis short answer quiz.

Mitosis is continuous process, look at the animation and try to identify the different stages. Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase

In these pages you are going to learn about the process of cell division. Remember that:

DNA is located in the chromosomes which coil and are therefore visible during cell division.

The chromosome complement (karyotype) of most cells consists of homologous pairs of chromosomes.

Individuals of the same species have the same karyotype.. However, karyotype varies between species both in the number and the morphology of the chromosomes.

Each chromosome of a species carries a particular set of genes controlling the characteristics of that species.

MITOSIS

This where one cell divides into two, each having the same number of chromosomes as the original cell.

Interphase		The chromosomes are uncoiled and therefore cannot be seen. DNA replication takes place during interphase.
prophase		The chromosomes start to coil, the spindle starts to form. Chromosomes become visible, each longitudinally divided into identical chromatids held together at the centromeres. The nuclear envelope breaks down and nucleolus disappears. Chromosomes continue to coil and become shorter and thicker.
metaphase		Chromosomes align at the equator of the spindle. They are attached to the spindle by their centromeres. The two chromatids of each chromosome separate and go to opposite poles.
anaphase		Chromatids move towards the poles, the centromeres lead the way. The cleavage furrow begins to form as the cell starts to divide in two.
telophase		Chromosome movement complete. Cleavage completed the chromosomes uncoil; nuclear envelope and nucleoli reappear.