Mitosis Flashcards
Define mitosis
A form of nuclear division in which one nucleus divides to form two nuclei
Mitosis takes place in what type of cells?
Cells not associated with the reproductive system called somatic cells
What are somatic cells?
Cells not associated with the reproductive system
How many stages are there in mitosis?
There are four stages
What are the four stages of mitosis?
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
What is the mnemonic for remembering the stages of mitosis?
Party
Monday
And
Tuesday
What are the five steps in prophase?
- Chromatin starts to contract
- Chromosomes become visible as double-stranded structures held together by a centromere
- The nucleolus disappears
- Spindle fibres appear in the cytoplasm
- Nuclear membrane starts to break down
Define a centromere
The point at which the chromosomes are attached in a double-stranded chromosome
What is a nucleolus?
The region in the nucleus where ribosomes are made
What are spindle fibres collectively called?
A spindle
What starts to contract during prophase?
Chromatin
What starts to break down during prophase?
The nuclear membrane
What disappears during prophase?
The nucleolus
What are the three steps in metaphase?
- The nuclear membrane completes its breakdown
- A spindle fibre from each end/pole of the cell attaches to each centromere
- The chromosomes line up across the middle/equator of the cell
What completes its breakdown during metaphase?
The nuclear membrane