Mitosis
There are four stages in mitosis.
- In prophase the nucleus, the nuclear membrane, and the nucleolus start to disappear. The spindle fibers and centrioles (remember: there are no centrioles in plant cells) become visible and the chromosomes condense.
- In metaphase the chromosomes line up along the center of the cell and kinetichore proteins attach to the spindle fibers.
- In anaphase the chromosomes are pulled apart at the centromere towards opposite poles.
- In telophase the nuclear membrane, nucleus, and nucleolus reappear. The chromosomes and spindle fibers disperse.
After mitosis, cytokinesis occurs. In plant cells, the golgi complex forms the middle lamella (cell plate). In animal cells, the cell membrane pinches in until two new cells are formed.
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