STAGES OF MITOSIS

WHAT IS
MITOSIS ?
Mitosis is a type of cell division in which
one cell (the mother) divides to produce
two new cells (the daughters) that are
genetically identical to itself. In the
context of the cell cycle, mitosis is the part
of the division process in which the DNA
of the cell's nucleus is split into two equal
sets of chromosomes.
The great majority of the cell divisions that
happen in your body involve mitosis. During
development and growth, mitosis populates an
organism’s body with cells, and throughout an
organism’s life, it replaces old, worn-out cells
with new ones. For single-celled eukaryotes
like yeast, mitotic divisions are actually a form
of reproduction, adding new individuals to the
population.
In all of these cases, the “goal” of mitosis is to
make sure that each daughter cell gets a
perfect, full set of chromosomes. Cells with too
few or too many chromosomes usually don’t
function well: they may not survive, or they
may even cause cancer. So, when cells undergo
mitosis, they don’t just divide their DNA at
random and toss it into piles for the two
daughter cells. Instead, they split up their
duplicated chromosomes in a carefully
organized series of steps.
STAGES
OF
MITOSIS
 Interphase
Before a dividing cell enters mitosis, it
undergoes a period of growth called
interphase. About 90 percent of a cell's
time in the normal cell cycle may be spent
in interphase.
G1 phase: The period prior to the
synthesis of  DNA. In this phase, the cell
increases in mass in preparation for cell
division. The G1 phase is the first gap
phase.
S phase: The period during which DNA is
synthesized. In most cells, there is a narrow
window of time during which DNA is
synthesized. The S stands for synthesis.
G2 phase: The period after DNA synthesis
has occurred but prior to the start of
prophase. The cell synthesizes proteins and
continues to increase in size. The G2 phase is
the second gap phase.
In the latter part of interphase, the cell still
has nucleoli present.
 Prophase
In prophase, the chromatin condenses into
discrete chromosomes. The nuclear
envelope breaks down and spindles form at
opposite poles of the cell. Prophase (versus
interphase) is the first true step of the
mitotic process. During prophase, a number
of important changes occur:
Chromatin fibers become coiled into
chromosomes, with each chromosome
having two chromatids joined at
a centromere.
The mitotic spindle, composed
of microtubules and proteins, forms in
thecytoplasm.
The two pairs of centrioles (formed from the
replication of one pair in Interphase) move
away from one another toward opposite ends
of the cell due to the lengthening of the ​
microtubules that form between them.
Polar fibers, which are microtubules that
make up the spindle fibers, reach from each
cell pole to the cell's equator.
Kinetochores, which are specialized regions
in the centromeres of chromosomes, attach
to a type of microtubule called kinetochore
fibers.
The kinetochore fibers "interact" with
the spindle polar fibers connecting the
kinetochores to the polar fibers.
The chromosomes begin to migrate
toward the cell center.
 Metaphase
In metaphase, the spindle reaches maturity and
the chromosomes align at the metaphase plate
(a plane that is equally distant from the two
spindle poles). During this phase, a number of
changes occur:
The nuclear membrane disappears completely.
Polar fibers (microtubules that make up the
spindle fibers) continue to extend from the
poles to the center of the cell.
Chromosomes move randomly until they
attach (at their kinetochores) to polar fibers
from both sides of their centromeres.
Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate at
right angles to the spindle poles.
Chromosomes are held at the metaphase plate
by the equal forces of the polar fibers pushing
on the centromeres of the chromosomes.
 Anaphase
In anaphase, the paired chromosomes (sister
chromatids) separate and begin moving to opposite
ends (poles) of the cell. Spindle fibers not connected
to chromatids lengthen and elongate the cell. At the
end of anaphase, each pole contains a complete
compilation of chromosomes. During anaphase, the
following key changes occur:
The paired centromeres in each distinct
chromosome begin to move apart.​
Once the paired sister chromatids separate
from one another, each is considered a
"full" chromosome. They are referred to
as daughter chromosomes.​
Through the spindle apparatus, the
daughter chromosomes move to the poles
at opposite ends of the cell.​
The daughter chromosomes migrate
centromere first and the kinetochore fibers
become shorter as the chromosomes near a
pole.​
In preparation for telophase, the two cell
poles also move further apart during the
course of anaphase. At the end of
anaphase, each pole contains a complete
compilation of chromosomes.
 Telophase
In telophase, the chromosomes are
cordoned off into distinct new nuclei in the
emerging daughter cells. The following
changes occur:
The polar fibers continue to lengthen.
Nuclei begin to form at opposite poles.
The nuclear envelopes of these nuclei form
from remnant pieces of the parent cell's
nuclear envelope and from pieces of the
endomembrane system.
Nucleoli also reappear.
Chromatin fibers of chromosomes uncoil.
After these changes, telophase/mitosis is
largely complete. The genetic contents of
one cell have been divided equally into two.
 Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis is the division of the cell's
cytoplasm. It begins prior to the end of
mitosis in anaphase and completes shortly
after telophase/mitosis. At the end of
cytokinesis, two genetically
identical daughter cells are produced. These
are diploid cells, with each cell containing a
full complement of chromosomes.
​
Cells produced through mitosis are
different from those produced
through meiosis. In meiosis, four daughter
cells are produced. These cells are haploid
cells, containing one-half the number of
chromosomes as the original cell. Sex
cells undergo meiosis. When sex cells
unite during fertilization, these haploid
cells become a diploid cell
MA. ISABELLE R. GARINGALAO
AVEGAEL T. CARNAJE
MIA NIEZEL G. VILLA &
ALYSSA JOY G. ELIFANE