What is mitosis? Give a brief account of mitosis in an animal cell?
Mitosis is an equational cell division in which the number of chromosomes in parent and, progeny cell remains the same. Stages of mitosis: i. Prophase: a. Chromosome material condenses to form compact mitotic chromosomes. Chromosomes are seen to be composed of two chromatids attached together at the centromere. b. Initiation of assembly of the mitotic spindle, microtubules the protein components of the cell cytoplasm help in the process. ii. Metaphase: a. Spindle fibers attach to kinetochores of chromosomes b. Chromosomes are moved to the spindle equator and get aligned along with the metaphase plate through spindle fibers to both poles. iii. Anaphase: a. Centromere splits and chromatids separate b. Chromatids move to the opposite poles. iv. Telophase: a. Chromosomes cluster at opposite spindle poles and lose their identity. b. The nuclear envelope assembles around the clusters of chromosomes. c. Nucleolus, Golgi complex, and the ER reform.
