Mitosis and the cell cycle

• what is mitosis?

  a type of cell division in which the 2 daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes and are genetically identical with each other and the parent cell
• what does mitosis produce?

  it produces 2 daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell and to each other
• what is the cell cycle?

  the sequence of events that takes place between one cell division and the next
• what do dividing cells undergo?

  they undergo a regular pattern of events called the cell cycle
• what are the stages of the cell cycle?

  • interphase
  • mitosis
  • cytokinesis
• what is a summary of what happens during interphase?

  a period of synthesis and growth
• what is a summary of what happens during mitosis?

  • the formation of 2 genetically identical daughter nuclei
  • there are 4 stages called prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
• following their replication at interphase, what are chromosomes referred to?

  they are referred to as chromatids until telophase, when they reach the poles of the cells, and are referred to as chromosomes again