The first phase of mitosis is prophase.
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, contained in two separate nuclei. Mitosis is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the cytoplasm, organelles, and cell membrane into two new cells containing roughly equal shares of these cellular components. Together, mitosis and cytokinesis constitute the mitotic (M) phase of an animal cell cycle. Mitosis is essential for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in eukaryotes.
The Stages of Mitosis
Mitosis is typically divided into several phases to describe the different events that occur during this process. The stages of mitosis are:
- Prophase (the first phase).
- Prometaphase.
- Metaphase.
- Anaphase.
- Telophase.
Prophase Explained
Prophase is the initial stage of mitosis. According to the reference, prophase is the "first phase of mitosis, the process that separates the duplicated genetic material carried in the nucleus of a parent cell into two identical daughter cells." During prophase, the following events occur:
- The chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes.
- The nucleolus disappears.
- The mitotic spindle begins to form.
- The nuclear envelope breaks down (in prometaphase).
In summary, prophase is the preparation phase for the separation of chromosomes, marking the beginning of the mitosis process.
