What are the stages of cell division?

Cell division occurs through a process called mitosis where a mother cell splits in two to form daughter cells identical to that of the mother. The stages of mitosis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis.

Prophase: Chromosomes begin to appear visible under a microscope due to chromatin. The nuclear envelope breaks down and the centrioles move towards the poles of the cell. They pull chromosomes apart using microtubules which are connected to the centromeres.

Metaphase: Chromosomes are aligned at the cell equator by spindle fibres​

Anaphase: The chromatids split at their centromeres and are pulled to towards opposite poles by spindle fibres

Telophase: Nuclear envelopes reform around the two new nuclei and the cromosomes decondense.

Cytokinesis: The final stage where the cytoplasm of the cell divides resulting in two new identical cells.