Final answer:
The stages of mitosis consist of prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis. During these stages, the chromosomes are evenly divided between two daughter cells, with the spindle apparatus playing a critical role in their separation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitosis is a process of cell division which results in the production of two daughter cells from a single parent cell. The chromosomes are equally distributed to each daughter cell. The stages of mitosis include prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis.
- Prophase: The chromosomes condense and become visible. The nuclear envelope breaks down, and the spindle apparatus forms.
- Prometaphase: The nuclear membrane dissolves and spindle fibers attach to chromatids.
- Metaphase: Chromosomes line up at the cell's equator, attached to the spindle fibers at their centromeres.
- Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite poles of the cell by the spindle fibers.
- Telophase: The chromatids reach the poles, and new nuclear envelopes form around them.
- Cytokinesis: The cytoplasm of the cell divides, resulting in two separate daughter cells.
The sequence of these stages ensures the correct amount of DNA is allocated to each of the two new daughter cells.