Prophase

Stages of Mitosis

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EUGENE M. MCCARTHY, PHD GENETICS

A video about prophase and the other stages of mitosis.

     
Prophase

Chromosomes being dragged toward the metaphase plate. Chromosomes (red) being dragged toward the metaphase plate. Image: Ted Salmon, NIH.


During interphase, the chromosomes, which are made of heterochromatin and euchromatin, are contained in the nucleus (see video above and upper picture at right).

But as mitosis begins, the nuclear envelope starts to break up and disappear. Each chromosome has replicated during interphase and is therefore composed of two sister chromatids containing identical genetic information.

Early during prophase, the first stage of mitosis, the chromosomes become visible with a light microscope as they condense (that is, as they shorten, coil, and thicken). Also, a spindle apparatus (blue strands in the upper two figures at left) begins to extend outward from each of the two centrosomes. These starlike configurations, composed of radiating microtubules, are also known as asters — Greek for stars — (see photomicrograph of asters >>).

After the nuclear envelope has disappeared, proteins bind to the centromeres to make the kinetochores. Microtubules attach at the kinetochores and the chromosomes begin to move.

Next page >>


Pronunciation of prophase:

It's "PROH-faze," not "PROP-faze."

A silly poem to help you remember:
Mitosis happens everywhere, even in my toe,
Meiosis only happens in my OH!
Mneumonic device: You can remember the first letters of each of the stages of mitosis in order (together with interphase) by remembering one of the following three sentences: "I picked my apples today." OR "I passed my anatomy test." OR "I prefer my Aunt Tillie." Take your pick.
Walther Flemming Flemming
Etymology: The name of this stage of mitosis is derived from the Latin word pro, meaning before. Some other bio-terms starting with pro: prognosis, prokaryote, pronucleus. The name mitosis itself comes from the Greek word mitos, meaning thread, because to Walther Flemming (1843-1905), who first described and named mitosis, the chromosomes looked like threads under the microscope.
Note: No tetrads form during mitosis.
Prometaphase. Some teachers like to distinguish a fifth stage of mitosis called prometaphase, which corresponds to that portion of mitosis occurring after the disappearance of the nuclear envelope, but before arrival of the chromosomes at the metaphase plate. The spindle apparatus >>
Centrosomes >>
Kinetochores>>
DNA replication >>
Sister chromatids >>
Nuclear envelope >>


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