description of telophase

Telophase is the final stage of mitosis, the process of cell division. During telophase, the replicated chromosomes have already separated and are now located at opposite poles of the cell. The nuclear membrane starts to reform around each set of chromosomes, and the nucleoli, which were previously absent during mitosis, reappear. The chromosomes begin to decondense and return to their extended, thread-like form.

Meanwhile, the spindle fibers that were responsible for moving the chromosomes during earlier stages of mitosis begin to disassemble. This disassembly is initiated at the opposite ends of the cell, towards the poles. As the spindle fibers break down, additional microtubules form in the region surrounding the chromosomes. These microtubules begin to form a protein structure called the contractile ring.

The contractile ring gradually contracts, pulling the cell membrane inward from the center of the cell. This process is known as cytokinesis, and it marks the final step of cell division, as it leads to the physical separation of the daughter cells.

In summary, telophase involves the reformation of the nuclear envelope around the separated sets of chromosomes, the decondensation of the chromosomes, the disassembly of the spindle fibers, and the initiation of cytokinesis to divide the cytoplasm between the two daughter cells.