Mitosis (Definition, Diagram & Stages of Mitosis)

6/16/24, 8:25 PM Mitosis (Definition, Diagram & Stages Of Mitosis)
Biology (/biology/) > Biology Article (/biology/articles/) > Mitosis (/biology/mitosis/)
Mitosis - Equational Division
Table of Contents
Mitosis Definition
What is Mitosis?
Features of Mitosis
Stages of Mitosis
Functions of Mitosis
Significance of Mitosis
Mitosis Definition
“Mitosis is that step in the cell cycle where the newly formed DNA is separated and two
new cells are formed with the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent
nucleus.”
Mitosis is a process of asexual reproduction observed in unicellular organisms. Read on to explore

what is mitosis, and the different stages of mitosis.
https://byjus.com/biology/mitosis/ 1/21
7,507
What is Mitosis?
Cell division is the driving process of reproduction at the cellular level. Most eukaryotic cells divide
in a manner where the ploidy or the number of chromosomes remains the same, except in the
case of germ cells where the number of chromosomes is halved.
Mitosis
Mitosis Diagram showing the different stages of mitosis
Mitosis is the phase of the cell cycle where the nucleus of a cell is divided into two nuclei with an
equal amount of genetic material in both the daughter nuclei. It succeeds the G2 phase and is
succeeded by cytoplasmic division after the separation of the nucleus.
Mitosis is essential for the growth of the cells and the replacement of worn-out cells. Abnormalities
during mitosis may alter the DNA, resulting in genetic disorders.
Features of Mitosis
1. In each cycle of cell division, two daughter cells are formed from the parent cell.
2. The cell is also known as equational cell division because the chromosome number in the
parent cell and daughter cell is the same.
3. In plants, mitosis leads to the growth of vegetative parts of the plant like root tip, stem tip, etc.
4. Segregation and combination do not occur in this process.
The processes occurring during mitosis have been divided into different stages.
Stages of Mitosis
Right before prophase, the cell spends most of its life in the interphase, where preparations are
made before the beginning of mitosis (the DNA is copied). However, since the actual process
involves the division of the nucleus, the prophase is technically the first stage of this process.
The different stages of mitosis occurring during cell division (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-

division/) are given as follows-
Interphase
Before entering mitosis, a cell spends a period of its growth under interphase. It undergoes the
following phases when in interphase:
G1 Phase: This is the period before the synthesis of DNA.
S Phase: This is the phase during which DNA synthesis takes place.
G2 Phase: This is the phase between the end of DNA synthesis and the beginning of the
prophase.
Prophase
Prophase immediately follows the S and G2 phases of the cycle and is marked by condensation of
the genetic material to form compact mitotic chromosomes composed of two chromatids
attached at the centromere.
The completion of the prophase is characterised by the initiation of the assembly of the mitotic
spindle, the microtubules and the proteinaceous components of the cytoplasm that help in the
process.
The nuclear envelope starts disintegrating.
Mitosis - Prophase
Prophase
Prometaphase
In the prometaphase, the nuclear envelop disintegrates. Now the microtubules are allowed to
extend from the centromere (https://byjus.com/biology/centromere/) to the chromosome. The
microtubules attach to the kinetochores which allow the cell to move the chromosome around.
Metaphase
At this stage, the microtubules start pulling the chromosomes with equal force and the
chromosome ends up in the middle of the cell. This region is known as the metaphase plate. Thus,
each cell gets an entire functioning genome.
Mitosis- Metaphase
Metaphase
Anaphase
The splitting of the sister chromatids marks the onset of anaphase. These sister chromatids
become the chromosome of the daughter nuclei. The chromosomes are then pulled towards the
pole by the fibres attached to the kinetochores of each chromosome. The centromere of each
chromosome leads at the edge while the arms trail behind it.
Mitosis - Anaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
The chromosomes (https://byjus.com/biology/chromosomes/) that cluster at the two poles start
coalescing into an undifferentiated mass, as the nuclear envelope starts forming around it. The
nucleolus, Golgi bodies and ER complex, which had disappeared after prophase start to reappear.
Mitosis -Telophase
Telophase
Telophase is followed by cytokinesis, which denotes the division of the cytoplasm to form two
daughter cells. Thus, it marks the completion of cell division.
Also Read: Cell Cycle (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-cycle-and-division/)
Functions of Mitosis
Following are the two important functions of mitosis:
1. Mitosis helps in the development of an organism. In single-celled organisms, mitosis is the

process of asexual reproduction.
2. Mitosis helps in the replacement of damaged tissues. The cells near the damaged cells
begin mitosis when they do not sense the neighbouring cells. The dividing cells reach each
other and cover the damaged cells.
Significance of Mitosis
1. Mitosis is responsible for the development of the zygote into an adult.
2. Equal distribution of chromosomes to each daughter cell.
3. It is responsible for the growth and development of an individual.
4. It maintains the constant number of chromosomes in all body cells of an organism.
5. Mitosis is required for asexual reproduction, vegetative propagation in plants and is also
responsible for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues.
6. Mitosis helps in maintaining the purity of the genome as no recombination or crossing over
takes place.
7. It is responsible for the repair and regeneration of old and damaged cells in animals e.g. gut
epithelium, blood cells, etc.
Also Read: Difference Between Mitosis And Meiosis (https://byjus.com/biology/mitosis-and-

meiosis/)
To know more about what is mitosis, the stages of mitosis, its definition, the mitosis diagram and
other related topics, register at BYJU’S or download the BYJU’S app.
26,816
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 Define mitosis.
Mitosis is the type of cell division by which a single cell divides in such a way as to produce two
genetically identical “daughter cells”.
Q2 Why is mitosis called equational division?
Mitosis is the process of cell division wherein the chromosomes replicate and get equally
distributed into two daughter cells. The chromosome number in each daughter cell is equal to
that in the parent cell, i.e., diploid. Hence, mitosis is known as equational division.
Q3 List all the stages of mitosis.
The stages of Mitosis are:

Prophase – The chromosomes shorten and thicken.
Metaphase – Chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.
Anaphase – Chromatids break apart at the centromere and move to opposite poles.
Telophase – Two nuclei formed after nuclear envelopes reform around each group of
chromosomes.
Q4 What is prophase?
The process of mitosis begins with the prophase. In this stage, the chromatin condenses and
the nucleolus disappears.
Q5 What happens in metaphase?
Metaphase is the second stage of the process, chromosomes get condensed at the equator,
before being split apart for each of the two daughter cells.
Q6 In what cells does mitosis occur?
Mitosis occurs in eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells divide by both mitosis and meiosis. For eg.,
skin cells divide by mitosis, whereas gametes divide by meiosis.
Q7 What is the primary function of mitosis?
Mitosis plays an important role in the life cycle of most living things. It helps in cell
regeneration, asexual reproduction and growth.
Also Read: Meiosis I (https://byjus.com/biology/meiosis-1-stages-and-process/) & Meiosis II

(https://byjus.com/biology/meiosis-ll-cell-division/)
Test your Knowledge on Mitosis!
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Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs.

Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!
Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz
Start Quiz
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January 21, 2020 at 4:12 am
So knowledgeable
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Super notes
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It is very useful notes for quick revision
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Very informative and useful notes
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A great source of knowledge
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Biology (/biology/) > Biology Article (/biology/articles/) > Mitosis (/biology/mitosis/)

Mitosis - Equational Division

Mitosis is a process of asexual reproduction observed in unicellular organisms. Read on to explore

Mitosis Diagram showing the different stages of mitosis

4. Segregation and combination do not occur in this process.

The different stages of mitosis occurring during cell division (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-

G1 Phase: This is the period before the synthesis of DNA.

The nuclear envelope starts disintegrating.

Also Read: Cell Cycle (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-cycle-and-division/)

1. Mitosis helps in the development of an organism. In single-celled organisms, mitosis is the

2. Equal distribution of chromosomes to each daughter cell.

3. It is responsible for the growth and development of an individual.

4. It maintains the constant number of chromosomes in all body cells of an organism.

Also Read: Difference Between Mitosis And Meiosis (https://byjus.com/biology/mitosis-and-

Frequently Asked Questions

Q2 Why is mitosis called equational division?

Q3 List all the stages of mitosis.

The stages of Mitosis are:

Metaphase – Chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.

Q5 What happens in metaphase?

Q6 In what cells does mitosis occur?

Q7 What is the primary function of mitosis?

Also Read: Meiosis I (https://byjus.com/biology/meiosis-1-stages-and-process/) & Meiosis II

Test your Knowledge on Mitosis!

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs.

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

BIOLOGY Related Links

What Is (https://byjus.com/biology/dna- What Is An (ht

What Causes Soil (https://byjus.com/biology/soil- Human Anatomy A

Photosynthesis (https://byjus.com/biology/photosynth What Is

Fragmentation (https://byjus.com/biology/fragmenta Leaf (https://b

Mobile Number Send OTP

Type your message or doubt here...

It is very useful notes for quick revision

Waseem Ahmad Khan

Very informative and useful notes

A great source of knowledge

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Mitosis (Definition, Diagram & Stages of Mitosis)

Mitosis (Definition, Diagram & Stages of Mitosis)