Mitosis

• The role of mitosis and the cell cycle is to produce identical daughter cells for growth and asexual reproduction of cells. All the cells produced by mitosis are genetically identical therefore mitosis does not give rise to genetic variation.
• Mitosis – mitosis is a form of cell division that produces identical cells, there are four stages of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.
• Cytokinesis – during cytokinesis the parent and replicated organelles move to opposite sides of the cell and the cytoplasm divides thus producing two daughter cells
• Interphase – during this stage the cell grows and then prepares to divide – chromosomes and some organelles are replicated, chromosomes also begin to condense
• During prophase, the nuclear envelope breaks down and subsequently disappears. The chromosomes condense and the centrioles move to opposite poles of the cell for the purpose of spindle formation.
• During metaphase, the chromosomes move to the equator and attach to the spindle fibres via centromeres.
• In the anaphase stage, the sister chromatids are separated.
• During telophase, the nuclear envelope reforms, creating two daughter cells. The spindle is broken down and subsequently disappears. The chromosomes uncoil.