Mitosis

Mitosis is the process by which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each with a complete set of chromosomes. The key stages of mitosis are prophase (chromosomes condense), metaphase (chromosomes align at the center), anaphase (sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles), and telophase (nuclear envelope reforms around the chromosomes at each pole). During mitosis, the mitotic spindle, composed of microtubules, attaches to the chromosomes at the kinetochores and pulls the sister chromatids apart to the opposite poles of the cell. Errors in mitosis, such as improper chromosome alignment or segregation, can lead to genetic abnormalities and potentially contribute to the development of cancer.