Cell division in animals is a two-step process involving mitosis and cytokinesis and is set up by interphase.
Interphase is a growth period for the cell. In the nucleus the chromosomes are duplicated but are not yet distinguishable because they are still a form of chromatin. There is also a nucleoli, one or more, present producing ribosomes that are sent to the cytoplasm.
Mitosis is the division of the nucleus and multiplication of the chromosomes. There are four phases of mitosis: "± Prophase "± Metaphase "± Anaphase "± Telophase During prophase, the first stage of mitosis, the chromatin fibers coil tightly to form chromosomes. Then the nucleoli disappear when they unravel. The now chromosomes have two sister chromatids that are bonded at a midpoint called the centromere. Mitotic spindles are also formed in the cells cytoplasm during prophase. In the later stages of the first step of mitosis the nuclear envelope breaks apart. Now that the nuclear envelope is broken up into pieces centrosomes, made in interphase, reposition to the poles of the cell. In the centromere of each chromatid is a point called the kinetochore. Then the spindle microtubules attach to the kinetochore making the chromosomes move. The spindle microtubules shift the chromosomes to the center of the cell.
Metaphase is the second part of mitosis. During metaphase the formation of the mitotic spindles is complete making the cells transition to the polar state finished as well. The chromosomes then line up on an imaginary midpoint called the metaphase plate. Once a part of the metaphase plate the centromeres line up to that the sister chromatids are on adjacent sides of the metaphase plate. The last period of metaphase involves each of the chromatids kinetochore¡¦s fastening to a centrosome from opposite poles of the cell.
Then third step in the miotic process is called anaphase. In the early stages of anaphase the