Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells. It is the process by which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitosis is important for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in multicellular organisms.
The process of mitosis can be divided into four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. During prophase, the chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, and the nuclear envelope breaks down. In metaphase, the chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell, and spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of each chromosome. In anaphase, the spindle fibers pull the sister chromatids apart, and they move towards opposite poles of the cell. Finally, in telophase, the nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes, and the cell undergoes cytokinesis, dividing into two daughter cells.
Mitosis is a tightly regulated process, and any errors can lead to genetic abnormalities or diseases such as cancer.
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