Stages of Mitosis

A mitosis tutorial

Online Biology Dictionary - A service of Macroevolution.net


Names of the stages of mitosis in order →


Mitosis is the process of eukaryotic cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell.

No change in chromosome number occurs during mitosis, because one sister chromatid from each chromosome in the parent cell passes into each of the two daughter cells (the sister chromatids separate during anaphase).

Stages of mitosis
First division of a zygote
Enlarged Image



Mitosis is the method by which the somatic cells of all multicellular organisms multiply (it is the process by which growth occurs). In addition, plants produce gametes by mitosis (they make spores by meiosis). Animals produce gametes via meiosis. The stages of mitosis are detailed on the following pages.

Continued on Next Page →


Meiosis versus mitosis →
Meiosis →

When does mitosis occur? Mitosis occurs only in eukaryotes. Prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria) divide by binary fission. In the eukaryotic cell cycle, mitosis alternates with interphase.
Why does mitosis occur? Mitosis allows the equal distribution of chromosomes into daughter cells. The resulting two cells are genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell that divided to produce them. Without the organized process of mitosis, chromosomes would be distributed at random into the daughter cells and the resulting cells would probably not even be viable.

Read about:
    Interphase →
    Prophase →
    Metaphase →
    Anaphase →
    Telophase →
    Cytokinesis →
Stages of mitosis
Basic diagram of mitosis
Diagram comparing mitosis
with meiosis
Credit: Saperaud

Evolution Blog | Suffix Prefix Dictionary | Biology Dictionary | Biology News | Meiosis Help | Home



© Macroevolution.net - All rights reserved
 blank