Final answer:
Mitosis is divided into five stages: Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. Each stage has distinct characteristics and plays a critical role in cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Five Stages of Mitosis
- Prophase: In prophase, the chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, the nuclear membrane disintegrates, and the spindle fibers begin to form.
- Prometaphase: During prometaphase, the chromosomes become fully condensed, the spindle fibers attach to the kinetochores on the chromosomes, and the nuclear envelope completely breaks down.
- Metaphase: In metaphase, the chromosomes align along the equatorial plane of the cell called the metaphase plate. The spindle fibers are fully formed and attached to each chromosome.
- Anaphase: Anaphase is characterized by the separation of sister chromatids. The spindle fibers pull the sister chromatids apart, moving them towards opposite poles of the cell.
- Telophase: The final stage of mitosis is telophase. During telophase, the chromosomes decondense, a new nuclear envelope forms around each set of chromosomes, and the spindle fibers disintegrate.