Mitosis vs meiosis
Describes the process of mitosis
Mitosis is a process of cell division that occurs in somatic cells, which are non-reproductive cells of an organism. It consists of several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
During prophase, the nuclear membrane disintegrates, and the chromosomes condense and become visible. The centrosomes move to opposite poles of the cell, and spindle fibers begin to form.
In metaphase, the chromosomes align in the middle of the cell. Spindle fibers attach to the centromere of each chromosome, ensuring their proper separation during division.
Anaphase follows metaphase, during which the spindle fibers contract, separating the sister chromatids of each chromosome. The separated chromatids are pulled towards opposite poles of the cell.
Telophase is the final stage of mitosis. The chromatids reach the poles of the cell, and new nuclear membranes form around them, creating two new nuclei.
Following telophase, cytokinesis takes place, leading to the splitting of the cytoplasm and the formation of two daughter cells. Each daughter cell contains an identical set of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mitosis plays a crucial role in growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms. It ensures the distribution of genetic material in somatic cells, maintaining the same genetic composition as the parent cell.
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