Starting with a few terms:

somatic cells:  all body cells having 46 chromosomes

reproductive cells:  gametes (sperm/egg) having 23 chromosomes

chromosomes:  incorporated into each is one very long linear DNA molecule.  This DNA associates with proteins called histones that maintain its conformation.

mitosis:  The DNA-protein complex called chromatin is organized/condensed into chromosomes. After replication each chromosome consists of 2 sister chromatids held together by the centromere; then in mitosis (the division of the nucleus) occurs.  After mitosis usually comes cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm.

zygote:  fertilized egg

meiosis:  daughter cells are yielded contained 1/2 or 23 chromosomes

Now in more Detail:

The Cell Cycle

Mitosis is one part (the shortest) of the cell cycle.  Interphase (growth--G--and replication periods) are the other 90%.  Chromosomes are duplicated only in the S (synthesis) Phase.  Mitosis is composed of 5 phases in the following order:  Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase.

The kinetochore is a specialized region of centromere that links each sister chromatid to the mitotic spindle; a protein structure; 2 per set of chromatids or 1 per sister chromatid.

Mitotic spindles begin to form during prophase from microtubules and proteins.  While being assembled the cytoplasmic skeleton is disassembled.  Spindles elongate by incorporating more tubulin (protein) into its structure.  Bundles of these form spindle fibers.

The centrosome is the microtubule organizing center.  Centrioles are inside it but not necessary.  Centrosomes replicate during interphase and are located at opposite ends of cell at end of prometaphase.

Splitting sisters (chromatids) up is a tug of war.  If microtubules from just one pole attach, the lose their grip.  This equalizes the number of microtubules attached to the kinetochores of a duplicated chromosome.  Pulling the sister chromatids apart occurs by depolymerization of the structural integrity (what make up) of the kinetochore microtubules in a certain zone of the microtubule called the depolymerization zone.  As a result the chromatids are split apart by the shortening of the kinetochore microtubules.

Nonkinetochore microtubule function in animals is to elongate the cell during anaphase.  Motor proteins drive interdigitating microtubules past one another.

Cytokinesis

in animals	in plants
process is called cleavage 1st sign = a cleavage furrow or shallow groove (outside) and cytoplasmic side is a contractile ring of microfilaments made of actin (a muscle contraction protein)	cell plate forms in telophase across the midline of the dikaryotic (2 nuclei) cell Golgi vesicles move along microtubules to the middle of the cell where they fuse to form the cell plate (eventually uniting laterally forming 2 cells) material is secreted into the intermembrane space to form the cell wall

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Next:  "External and Internal Mitotic Cues."