Mitosis is the process when a single eukaryotic cell divides resulting in two identical daughter cells with the same genetic information from the parent cell. Mitosis is also known as a type of cell division when the parent cell separates its nucleus and chromosomes to duplicate and create 2 new sets. Mitosis is divided up into 6 stages.
1) Interphase: During interphase the DNA replicates inside the single cell and the chromosomes have not yet formed so they remain as chromatin (long fibers that are a result as 2 chromosomes splitting apart)
2) Prophase: During prophase the DNA molecules that were just replicated get shorter and condense to form chromosomes. At this stage the nuclear envelope and nuclear membrane disappear.
3) Metaphase: During metaphase the spindle apparatus that help the cell separate form and are visible at opposite ends of the cell. The fibers then attach themselves to the chromosomes and bring them to the center of the cell which forms a “plate.”
4) Anaphase: During anaphase the chromosomes separate to become sister chromatids and then are pulled to opposite sides of the cell by the centrioles and get ready for the cell to actually split apart.
5) Telophase: At each side of the cell 2 new nuclear envelopes form around the newly duplicated chromosomes, the spindle fibers disappear at this stage.
6) Cytokinesis: this phase can be in conjunction with telophase, but it is the stage were the 2 daughter cells are pinched off from each other to create 2 new cells with the same number of chromosomes.
After all these stages are complete, “depending on the organism it can take 20 minutes to 24 hours to reproduce” and start growing as a single cell and once again reproduce to form more cells.
1. http://www.wisegeek.org/how-long–does-it-take-for-cells-to-divide.htm
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