Download Mitosis and the Cell Cycle A cell, whether it is one part of a larger

Mitosis and the Cell Cycle
A cell, whether it is one part of a larger organism or is a single organism, undergoes a cell cycle.
A cell cycle consists of cell growth for most of its life. In preparation for division it duplicates
the chromosome material, which contains all the information the cell needs (DNA). In order to
divide it undergoes a process called MITOSIS, which is division of the nucleus. This is
followed by division of the cytoplasm, which is called CYTOKINESIS.
The entire process is best studied in stages, but remember they are a continual process!
IPMAT - an anagram for remembering the stages.
INTERPHASE
Interphase is not really a stage in mitosis, but the part of the cell cycle
immediately preceding it (the S phase from the diagram).
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each chromosome makes an exact copy of itself, this is called
replication
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in animal cells only, the centrioles replicate and form two pairs
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the chromosomes look like tangles threads
PROPHASE
The first true stage of mitosis. So many things happen during prophase
that we often split it into early and late prophase.
EARLY
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duplicated chromosomes thicken and become visible as paired
chromatids
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the chromatids are joined by a centromere
a spindle forms between the centrioles
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microtubules of the spindle fasten to the centromeres
doubled chromosomes move toward the equator
the nuclear membrane disappears
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chromatids line up at the equator
centromeres divide and separate
chromatids begin to move apart
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chromatids move to opposite poles
cytokinesis begins
LATE
METAPHASE
ANAPHASE
TELOPHASE
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spindle and asters (in animal cells only) disappear
chromosomes become threadlike again
nuclear membranes reform
cytokinesis finishes - cytoplasm finishes dividing(pinches together
to form two cells in animals, or a cell plate separates the two cells in
plants)