Mitosis

The Cell Cycle

Interphase is the normal growth and living stage of a cell

When a cell is not dividing it is in interphase

There are 3 steps to interphase.

-G1 is the first growth stage where a cell grows

-S phase is the synthesis stage. This is the time that a cell starts copying all of its DNA so when it comes time to divide it will have a copy for both cells

-G2 is the 2nd growth stage where the cell grows for the purpose of division.

There are checks before many of the stages can continue

These checks are very important. They prevent a damaged cell from dividing. When damaged cells divide they could become a tumor and even cancer.

Stages of Mitosis

Prophase is the first phase is division. During prophase the nucleus breaks apart and the chromatin condenses into chromosomes. The chromosomes then begin to get pulled to the center of the cell

Metaphase is when the chromosomes are all aligned in the middle of the cell

Anaphase is when the sister chromatids are being pulled apart to opposite ends of the cell

Telophase is when 2 nuclei start to form around the separated chromatids, the chromatids unwind, and cytokinesis begins to split the cell