In anaphase of mitosis, the sister chromatids are separated and pulled to the poles. How do these chromatids, which are only half of a duplicated chromosome, become chromosomes? As I understand it, mitosis produces daughter cells that are identical to the parent cells.
During anaphase of mitosis, the sister chromatids, which are exact copies of each other, are separated and pulled towards opposite poles of the cell by spindle fibers. This process ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. You are correct in saying that mitosis produces daughter cells that are identical to the parent cells.
After the sister chromatids are pulled towards the poles, they are referred to as chromosomes. Each chromosome consists of a single DNA molecule. When the sister chromatids separate, they become individual chromosomes with their own centromere, making them complete and independent structures.
In summary, during anaphase of mitosis, sister chromatids separate and become individual chromosomes, resulting in two identical sets of chromosomes being distributed to the daughter cells.
In mitosis, the sister chromatids, which are indeed half of a duplicated chromosome, become individual chromosomes during anaphase. This process ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, identical to the parent cell.
To understand how this happens, let's break down the process step by step:
1. Before anaphase: During the earlier stages of mitosis (prophase and metaphase), replicated chromosomes consist of two identical sister chromatids held together by a structure called the centromere.
2. Anaphase: At the onset of anaphase, the centromeres divide, allowing the sister chromatids to separate. The centromeres play a crucial role in this process by assisting in the proper segregation of the chromatids.
3. Separation: After the separation, the separated sister chromatids move toward opposite poles of the cell using the spindle fibers. This movement ensures that each daughter cell receives one complete set of chromosomes.
4. Formation of individual chromosomes: Once the sister chromatids reach their respective poles, they are now considered individual chromosomes. At this point, the cell begins to prepare for cytokinesis, where the cytoplasm divides, and two daughter cells are formed.
Therefore, during anaphase, the sister chromatids are pulled apart and become individual chromosomes that are identical to each other and the parent cell's original chromosomes. This ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete and identical set of chromosomes, maintaining genetic integrity.