Final answer:
To summarize, the events leading up to anaphase in cell division of an animal cell include growth and duplication of DNA, chromosome condensation, formation of spindle fibers, alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate, and separation of sister chromatids.
Step-by-step explanation:
- Growth and duplication of DNA: Before anaphase, the cell goes through interphase where the DNA is replicated or synthesized, producing identical copies of each chromosome.
- Chromosome condensation: In prophase, the replicated chromosomes condense, becoming shorter and thicker, making them visible under a microscope.
- Formation of the spindle fibers: During prometaphase, the spindle fibers, made up of microtubules, form and attach to the centromere region of each chromosome.
- Alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate: In metaphase, the replicated chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell, forming the metaphase plate.
- Separation of sister chromatids: In anaphase, the sister chromatids, which are held together by the centromere, separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.
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