Question

1. In the order they occur, list and describe the 4 main steps of mitosis. You may provide an illustration if you prefer, but you must name the steps in order. (4 points)

Answer 1

Prophase: Cell prepares for division by condensing the chromosomes in the nucleus. Spindles align near the nuclear envelope on opposite sides.
Metaphase: Chromosome meet at the center and line up. Each set of spindle fibers on each side of the nuclear envelope attach to the closest sister chromatid of the chromosomes.
Anaphase: Chromosomes split apart by releasing the centromere that connects them. The two halves are pulled to the opposite sides by the spindle fibers and the cell elongates.
Telephase: A nuclear envelope forms around each set of chromosomes that are at either end of the cell and the spindles break down as the cell breaks into two identical daughter cells.

There is a step called Interphase before these 4 main steps where the cell prepares for replication and duplicates all of the DNA in the nucleus in preparation for the division.