What are the five phases of Mitosis?

[Animation] - Mitosis
[Animation] - Mitosis and Cytokinesis

The 5 phases of mitosis are prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. These phases form a nuclear division that produces two daughter cells.

The might also be prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and citokinesis.

The first phase of mitosis is prophase. During this phase the nucleus disappears. Once the nucleus has disappeared, the centrioles move from the center of the cell to different ends of it. Fibers cross and form the mitotic spindle.

Once the fibers have extended and centrioles have separated, prometaphase begins. When prometaphase begins, the nuclear membrane disappears. Kinetochores are formed in this stage when proteins connect to the centromeres. Microtubules connect to these which help the chromosomes begin moving.

During metaphase, spindle fibers work to align the chromosomes into the middle of the nucleus of the cell by creating a metaphase plate. The process allows each of the new nuclei to receive one copy of each of the chromosomes from the original.

Paired chromosomes separate during anaphase and move to opposite sides of the cell. They are separated at the kinetochores. The physical interaction of microtubules causes the cell to move into motion and begin going where it needs to go to finish mitosis.

In telophase, membranes begin to form around the new daughter nuclei. The cell will begin to separate during this phase in preparation for becoming two new cells.

Prophase

Prophase, the first stage of mitosis, follows immediately after interphase. The cell has already duplicated its genetic material in interphase, and during prophase the DNA condenses up tightly. Different proteins aid in the condensation process, such as condensin and cohesin. Using a microscope, the DNA appears as X-shapes because the individual chromosomes are stuck together at their center points. This crossover point is called the centromere. During prophase, the cell also builds a structure called a mitotic spindle. The mitotic spindle is like scaffolding that will tug the DNA toward each side of the cell and separate it into two in later mitotic stages.

Prometaphase

In prometaphase, the protective membrane that normally surrounds the DNA begins to break down. This leaves the DNA in little membrane bubbles that can be easily accessed by the developing mitotic spindle to grab onto. When the mitotic spindle fibers find a bit of DNA, they connect directly to a set of proteins called the kinetochore, which are at the centromere. The spindle then pulls from each end of the cell in a sort of microscopic tug-of-war.

Metaphase

During metaphase, the chromosomes line up in the center (equator) of the cell. They are neatly arranged in preparation for the equal distribution of half the genetic material to the two future daughter halves of the initial cell. In metaphase, the DNA is very tightly compressed.

Anaphase

In anaphase, the chromosomes split up into identical sets. This occurs because enzymes chew up the proteins, such as cohesin, that keep the chromosomes together. The mitotic spindle apparatus pulls each half of the chromosomes to each end of the cell.

Telophase

As the chromosomes get to opposite sides of the cell, telophase begins. The spindle scaffold breaks down and the protective membrane around the DNA reforms so that each set of DNA now has a full membrane. The cell is now ready to divide into two, with each daughter cell retaining a full copy of the cellular DNA.