Question

write short note on mitosis

Answer 1

mitosis is a part of the cell cycle when replicated chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei.

The process of mitosis is divided into stages corresponding to the completion of one set of activities and the start of the next. These stages are prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. During mitosis, the chromosomes, which have already duplicated, condense and attach to spindle fibers that pull one copy of each chromosome to opposite sides of the cell. The result is two genetically identical daughter nuclei. The rest of the cell may then continue to divide by cytokinesis to produce two daughter cells. Producing three or more daughter cells instead of normal two is a mitotic error called tripolar mitosis or multipolar mitosis (direct cell triplication / multiplication).Other errors during mitosis can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) or cause mutations. Certain types of cancer can arise from such mutations.

Answer 2

Mitosis is a continuum of changes but biologists like break down the stages of mitosis into four main stages, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.
The focus in this class is on an understanding of the process and not a memorization of phases.