Cell Division 10.2

Mitosis

• Part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides.

Cytokinesis

• Division of the cytoplasm during cell division.

Chromatid

• One of two identical “sister” parts of a duplicated chromosome.

Centromere

• Area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached.

Interphase

• Period of the cell cycle between cell divisions.

Cell Cycle• Series of events that cells go through as

they grow and divide.

Prophase• First and longest phase of mitosis, during

which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the opposite sides of the nucleus.

Centriole

• One of two tiny structures located in the cytoplasm of animal cells near the nuclear envelope.

Spindle

• Fanlike microtubule structure that helps separate the chromosomes during mitosis.

Metaphase

• Second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell.

Anaphase

• The third phase of mitosis, during which the chromosome pairs separate and move toward opposite poles.

Telophase

• Fourth and final phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes begin to disperse into a tangle of dense material.

Key Concept

• What are the main events of the cell cycle?–During the cell cycle, a cell grows,

prepares for division, and divides to form two daughter cells, each of which then begins the cycle again.

Key Concept

• What are the four phases of mitosis?–Biologists divide the events of mitosis

into four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.