Name: Cell Cycle: The M Phase
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 9 min 36 s
Description: After the Interphase, the cell is ready to divide! Let's check out this quick video lesson to learn the different processes that take place in the M Phase.

Question

What is mitosis? Give a short account of its various stages.

Accepted Answer

Mitotic division or mitosis is the type of division that takes place in somatic cells. The mitotic division is divided into two subdivisions: Karyokinesis and cytokinesis.

Karyokinesis is the first phase of every type of cell division. It occurs in 4 different stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

Prophase: It is the first stage of mitosis in which condensation of chromatin fibres occurs and form well-defined chromosomes. Nuclear membrane and nucleolus are disappeared. The spindle fibres start to develop.

Metaphase: Chromosomes are aligned at the equational plane in the metaphase stage of mitosis. In this phase, chromosomes are lies in the cytoplasm, spindle fibre formation is completed and centromeres of the chromosomes are attached with these fibres.

Anaphase: In these, the centromere divides and two chromatids of each chromosome are separated in the anaphase stage of mitosis. The separated chromatids are move to opposite poles.

Telophase: In this phase, the chromosomes reach the poles and decondensation takes place to form chromatin reticulum. The spindle fibres disappear and nuclear membrane reappears. The nucleolus also reappears to form two daughter nuclei.

Cytokinesis: The process of division of cytoplasm occurs after karyokinesis is known as cytoplasmic division or cytokinesis. In plant cells, cytokinesis occurs by the formation of a cell plate. In animal cell, it takes place by the formation of furrow or depression.

What is mitosis? Give a short account of its various stages.

Important Questions on Cell Cycle and Cell Division

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