Cell Division and Mitosis

Cells! They're grrrrrrreat! Today we're back at The Scientific Waffle, and we're gonna talk about the cell reproduction cycle.


WARP SPEED!

To produce, cells divide. Here are the 4 stages of mitosis, or the cells getting ready to split.

Prophase: In prophase, the chromatin in the cell (genetic material) condenses into chromosomes, which are chromatids that have paired up. Centrioles in the cell go to opposite ends of the cell and stretch a net of spindle fibers throughout the cell.
[In between these phases is a smaller phase called prometaphase, where the nuclear membrane dissolves.]
Metaphase: In Metaphase, the chromosomes line up along the center of the cell in the middle of the net.
Anaphase: In Anaphase, the centrioles pull back the spindle fibers and the chromosomes are pulled apart back into chromatids.
Telophase: The spindle fibers start to disappear and the chromatids go back to chromatin. A nuclear membrane then surrounds each group of chromatin.

After the four stages of mitosis, the cell membrane splits into to cells and the whole thing is done. The cells then go into interphase, where cell organelles and chromosomes are developed. This time period takes up about 90% of the cell's lifespan.

Well, that's all for today folks, Bye! =)

Links:
Brainpop Video on Mitosis
Mitosis Gif