How to recognise each stage of mitosis

Question 1

prophase

Answer 1

Chromosomes are visible
The nuclear envelope is breaking down

Question 2

Metaphase

Answer 2

Chromosomes are lined up along the middle of the cell

Question 3

Anaphase

Answer 3

Chromosomes are moving away from the middle of the cell, towards opposite poles

Question 4

Telophase

Answer 4

Chromosomes have arrived at opposite poles of the cell

Chromosomes begin to decondense

The nuclear envelope is reforming

Question 5

Cytokinesis

Answer 5

Animal cells: a cleavage furrow forms and separates the daughter cells

Plant cells: a cell plate forms at the site of the metaphase plate and expands towards the cell wall of the parent cell, separating the daughter cells