Final answer:
During telophase of mitosis, chromosomes uncoil into chromatin, the spindle breaks down, and new nuclear membranes form around the chromatids. This stage signifies the re-establishment of organized nuclear structures. Telophase ensures each daughter cell receives an equal and complete set of DNA before cytokinesis completes cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
During telophase, the final stage of mitosis, several important events take place. Firstly, the chromosomes that have been separated and pulled to opposite poles of the cell begin to uncoil and form chromatin. This process is crucial as it prepares the genetic material for directing the metabolic activities of the new cells. Meanwhile, the mitotic spindle breaks down, and new nuclear membranes (nuclear envelope) form around each set of chromatids. At this stage, telophase signifies the re-establishment of organized nuclear structures prior to the completion of cell division.
In some organisms, the typical events of telophase, such as the decondensation of chromosomes and the formation of nuclear envelopes, may vary. For instance, in telophase I of meiosis, cytokinesis, which is the physical separation of cytoplasmic components into two daughter cells, may occur with or without the reformation of nuclei. Cytokinesis in animals and some fungi is completed with a cleavage furrow, while in plants, a cell plate is formed to eventually produce the cell walls that separate the daughter cells.
Telophase is crucial because it ensures that each daughter cell receives an equal and complete complement of DNA and cell organelles necessary for independent existence. Following telophase, cytokinesis concludes the cell division process by physically dividing the cell contents into two distinct new cells.