Mitosis

Prophase: early in prophase the chromosomes condense and become visible

under special stain.

The nuclear membrane breaks down and the spindle apparatus begins to form.

Centrosome and The Spindle Apparatus

Spindle formation in prophase is largely controlled by the mitotic centres that

define the poles.

The assembly of the microtubules that form the spindle are organized by special
regions known as Microtubule organizing centres MOC

The mitotic centres of animal cells are usually associated with centrioles and for
a long time it was assumed that these structures were the organizing centres for
spindle assembly. However, many species including all higher plants complete
the formation of the spindles without the presence of centrioles.

There are two types of microtubules in the spindle or centromeric cpindle

fibres:

1) The kinetochore microtubules that attach the centromere (through the

kinetochore) to the poles and

2) the polar microtubules that connect pole to pole (but do not attach to any
chromosomes0 or continuous spindle fibers.
Metaphase:

By the on set of metaphase the chromosomes have lined up along the

equatorial plane. At this point the centromeres of the chromosomes split and the
resulting daughter chromosomes are pulled apart.

Anaphase:
Is the movement of the daughter chromosomes towards opposite poles. the
movement is generated by the spindle apparatus. Two distinct processes appear
to be involved in movement of the daughter chromosomes they are:

1) The spindle lengthens as the continuous spindle fibers slide past another.
This motion pushes the poles apart and may begin the movement of the
daughter chromosomes apart and

2) the other mechanism for chromosome movement is due to subunit

disassembly of the centromeric spindle fibers at the microtubular organizing
center this shortens the centromeric spindles and reels in the chromosomes.

Telophase:

Is in effect prophase in reverse. it can be seen to be beginning when the

chromosomes have moved to their respective poles and they begin to uncoil, the
spindle disassembles, nuclear membranes form around each new set of
chromosomes and the nucleoli reappear. Also at this time, in animal cells the
centrioles replicate, i.e. they create copies of themselves so now 2 sets (pairs)
exist in each daughter cell. As well this is the time of cytokinesis or division of
the cytoplasm.

in animals cytokineis begins with a furrow along the cells equator. This furrow
eventually becomes a deep grove called the cleavage furrow. By the time the
cleavage furrow has pinched all the way through two new daughter cells have
been formed.
Plant Cell Mitosis
This process of mitosis as described above is essentially the same in plants
which adds to the universal nature of life on earth. the only major difference is the
absence of centrioles in plants and the lack of an Aster.

Cytokensis, as well, proceeds in plants by a different mechanism. Plant cells

simply generate a new cell wall between the developing telophase nuclei.

This is accomplished by a cell plate formation. The cell plate originates from the
fusion of several (many) vesicles which originate from the golgi. The cell plat fills
with pectin and forms the middle lamella. Plasma membrane is laid down on the
surface of the cell 0plat and a new primary cell wall (cellulose) is secreted
through the cell membrane and each side of the cell plate.
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