A brief description

Introduction

Meowllo! I am Professor Mayto Seas.

Today, I will be discussing the process of: Mitosis! *meow*

But my dear student, are you familiar with this term?...... No? It's okay! I am the purr-fect mentor for you *meow*

What is Mitosis?

Listen verrry clearly, dear student!

During mitosis, one cell divides once to form two identical cells *meow*. In this purr-ocess, the cell replicates its chromosomes and segregates them, purr-oducing two identical nuclei with the same amount of genetic material. The major purr-pose of mitosis is for growth and to replace worn out cells. *meow*

The purr-ocess of mitosis is essential for growth and repair purr-ocesses of eukaryotic organisms: mitosis is how we are able to replace our fingernails and hair as well as how our skin is replaced. *meow*

The different stages of Mitosis

Interphase

[Meowllo! It is still Professor Mayto speaking (meowing)?.. In any case, I have turned myself into a diagram! As an experimental cat, this is an ability given to me by my meowsters! They are verrry kind.]

Before entering mitosis, a cell spends a purr-eriod of its growth under interphase. It undergoes the G1, S, And G2 phases. G1 is the period before the synthesis of DNA, while S is the phase during which DNA synthesis takes place. The final phase is G2, which is the end of DNA synthesis and the beggining of prophase!

Throughout these phases, there are checkpoints to determine a cell's aptitude in undergoing mitosis! If it fails, it will execute aptosis (self destruction of cells). Truly meownfortunate!

Prophase

In the prophase, chromosomes condense and centrosomes move to the opposite sides of the nucleus!

Movement of the centrosomes indicate initiating of the formation of the mitotic spindle.

After prophase and before metaphase is the PROMETAPHASE, the phase in which the nuclear envelope disintegrates and spindle fibers are allowed to extend from the centromere. The fibers then attach to the kinetochores, which lets the cell move the chromosome around!

Metaphase

Metaphase? Meow-xiting phase!

In this phase, the spindle fibers start pulling the chromosomes with equal force, causing the chromosomes to end up in the middle of the cell. This region is called the metaphase plate!

Anaphase

Meow-rray! One last pull, dear student, and we will be finished with this discussion, just like the anaphase!

The spindle fibers pull some more to the chromosomes, causing them to split into two sister chromatids. These chromatids are pulled towards the pole.

Telophase and Cytokinesis

Now, fur the final event!

This phase separates the sister chromatids that have been divided, each side clustering and coalescing into an undifferentiated mass. The nuclear envelope starts forming around them. During the telophase, the cells that are forming will start to split, forming a clevage between them.

Cytokinesis follows shortly after the telophase, where the cell is completely cleaved in half and becomes 2 cells.