stages of mitosis

Mitosis is the process where one cell divides to form two genetically identical daughter cells, passing through a series of ordered stages.

Quick Scoop: What are the stages of mitosis?

Biologists usually describe mitosis in 4–6 named stages, depending on how finely they split them.

• Interphase – DNA is replicated and the cell prepares for division (often treated as “before mitosis,” but crucial).

• Prophase – Chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes; spindle fibers start to form; nuclear envelope breaks down.

• Prometaphase – Spindle fibers attach to chromosomes at their centromeres and start moving them (sometimes grouped with prophase).

• Metaphase – Chromosomes line up at the cell’s equator (metaphase plate).

• Anaphase – Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.

• Telophase – Chromosomes de‑condense and new nuclear envelopes form around each set.

• Cytokinesis – The cytoplasm divides, producing two separate daughter cells (formally not part of mitosis, but follows it).

Super-short story version

Imagine the cell is packing up a library and shipping it into two new buildings:

1. Interphase – All books are copied and neatly arranged on shelves (DNA replication and preparation).

2. Prophase/Prometaphase – Books get boxed and labeled, shelves taken apart, moving trucks pull up (chromosomes condense, nuclear envelope disappears, spindle forms).

3. Metaphase – All boxes line up in one long row down the middle, ready to be split perfectly.

4. Anaphase – The row is split in half and each truck takes one full copy set to opposite sides.

5. Telophase – At each side, boxes are unpacked into new libraries; new walls go up (new nuclei form).

6. Cytokinesis – The old building is physically split into two new buildings (two new cells).

HTML table: Stages of mitosis

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Stage</th>
      <th>Main events</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Interphase</td>
      <td>DNA is replicated; cell grows and prepares for division.[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Prophase</td>
      <td>Chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes; nuclear envelope breaks down; spindle apparatus begins to form.[web:1][web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Prometaphase</td>
      <td>Nuclear envelope fully disappears; spindle microtubules attach to chromosomes at kinetochores and start moving them.[web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Metaphase</td>
      <td>Chromosomes align along the metaphase plate (cell equator).[web:1][web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Anaphase</td>
      <td>Sister chromatids separate at the centromeres and move to opposite poles of the cell.[web:1][web:3][web:5][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Telophase</td>
      <td>Chromosomes arrive at poles and de-condense; new nuclear envelopes form around each chromosome set.[web:1][web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cytokinesis</td>
      <td>Cytoplasm divides; cell membrane pinches in, producing two genetically identical daughter cells.[web:3][web:8][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Little exam tip

Many courses focus on four “core” mitotic stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase (PMAT), and mention cytokinesis separately. Others list interphase before and sometimes split prophase into prophase and prometaphase, so always match the scheme your textbook or exam board uses.

TL;DR: Mitosis runs through prophase → (prometaphase) → metaphase → anaphase → telophase, usually followed by cytokinesis, to turn one cell into two identical ones.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.