Final answer:
Mitosis is a crucial biological process involving several phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis. It is essential for growth, development, and repair in living organisms, ensuring that daughter cells receive an exact copy of the genetic material.
Step-by-step explanation:
Process of Mitosis
Mitosis is a fundamental process for life, playing a vital role in growth, development, and repair in living organisms. The process of mitosis involves the division of a cell's nucleus followed by the division of the cell itself. The phases of mitosis are prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Prophase is the first phase where the chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, and the nuclear membrane starts to dissolve. Spindle fibers begin to form from the centrioles. During metaphase, chromosomes align at the cell equator. Anaphase is marked by the separation of sister chromatids, pulled apart by the spindle fibers. Finally, during telophase, nuclear membranes reform around the separated chromosomes, now at opposite poles.
Following mitosis, cytokinesis occurs, splitting the cytoplasm to form two genetically identical daughter cells. During cytokinesis in animal cells, the cell membrane pinches inwards to divide the cytoplasm.
Significance of Mitosis: Mitosis ensures that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell's genetic material, maintaining the diploid chromosome number. Essential for tissue growth and regeneration, mitosis allows multicellular organisms to grow and repair tissues, while also playing a role in asexual reproduction in some species.
Without mitosis, life would lack the necessary mechanism to replace damaged or dead cells, hindering the survival of organisms.