Mitosis is nuclear division plus cytokinesis, and produces two identical daughter cells during prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Interphase is often included in discussions of mitosis, but interphase is technically not part of mitosis, but rather encompasses stages G1, S and G2 cell cycle. I
The cell is engaged in metabolic activity in preparation for mitosis (the next four phases that lead and include nuclear division). Chromosomes are not clearly discerned in the nucleus, although a dark spot called the nucleolus may be visible. The cell can contain a pair of centrioles (or centers organization of microtubules in plants) which are organizational sites for microtubules.
Prophase Chromatin in the nucleus begins to condense and becomes visible in the light microscope as chromosomes. The nucleolus disappears. Centrioles begin moving to opposite poles of the cell and fibers extend from the centromeres. Some fibers cross the cell to form the mitotic spindle.
Prometaphase
nuclear membrane dissolves, marking the beginning of prometaphase. Proteins attach to the centromeres creating the kinetochores. Microtubules attach to kinetochores and the chromosomes begin to move. Metaphase
Spindle fibers align the chromosomes along the middle of the cell nucleus. This line is referred to as the metaphase plate. This organization helps to ensure that the next phase, when chromosomes are separated, each new nucleus will receive a copy of each chromosome.
Anaphase
pairs of chromosomes separate at the kinetochores and move to opposite sides of the cell. The movement is the result of a combination of: kinetochore movement along the spindle microtubules and interaction physics of polar microtubules.
Telophase
Chromatids arrive at opposite poles of the cell, and new membranes form around the daughter nuclei. The chromosomes disperse and are no longer visible under the microscope. The spindle fibers disperse, and cytokinesis or the partitioning of the cell may also begin during this phase.
Cytokinesis in animal cells, cytokinesis results when a fiber ring composed of a protein called actin around the center of the cell contracts pinching the cell into two daughter cells, each with its nucleus. In plant cells, the rigid wall requires that a cell plate be synthesized between the two daughter cells.
