Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division Cells eventually need to Reproduce. Mitosis is Asexual Cell Division in which Cells reproduce to form Identical Daughter Cells. In Unicellular Organisms, this is Reproduction. Mitosis is used by these cells when they want to form identical Offspring Fast, or they are well adapted and Do Not Need to Change/Adapt. EASY! In Multicellular Organisms, Mitosis occurs to Replace Cells relative to Healing or in Growth, etc… Very Precisely controlled to maintain Organization and Balance. Who Does IT!

INTERPHASE Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division The Cell is “Active” and Functional. It is either Growing (Stem Cells) or Doing ”its” “Job”. Chromatin is loose and uncoiled (not visible) and ACTIVE. The Nucleus is Intact and Large. The Genes are available for Use! The Nucleus is Present and has an obvious Nucleolus as it manufactures Ribosomes. The Cell is making Proteins = Working! The Cytoskeleton maintains Cell Shape Internally. But since the Cell Divides, it is Round and Simple! Between You Should be able to Always Identify Interphase due to:

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division PROPHASE Many Things occur during Prophase as the Cell Prepares for actually Dividing. The DNA become Visible as CHROMOSOMES! These “Colored Bodies” are the same DNA as before, but Supercoiled and Condensed. This DNA is “OFF”. The Cell is inactive during Mitosis! Cells that Divide CANNOT PERFORM A JOB! The Mitotic Spindle begins to Form. This is the Cytoskeleton and the Centrioles that have changed their Role from Cell Shape and Organization to Moving the Chromosomes. As such, Cells in Mitosis do not have defined Shapes = OFF! First

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division PROPHASE The Nucleus Disappears! This is necessary to allow the Chromosomes to Move. The Mitotic Spindle forms a Cage-like structure that extends around the Chromosomes and then attaches to them at their Centromeres. First You Should be able to Always Identify Prophase due to: 1 2 3

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division METAPHASE Middle Metaphase is EASY! The Chromosomes are Lined-Up! The Mitotic Spindle Pulls on the attached Chromosomes. Since both sides are exerting force, the chromosomes are pulled to the EQUATOR of the Cell and Lined-Up. You Should be able to Always Identify Metaphase due to:

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division ANAPHASE Apart Anaphase is EASY! The Chromosomes are Pulled Apart! The Identical Sister Chromatids are SEPARATED and then PULLED APART toward the POLES of the Cell. You Should be able to Always Identify Metaphase due to:

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division TELOPHASE End Telophase is the Final Phase! The Nuclei Reform as Separated with Complete suites of the DNA. NOW, the separated Sister Chromatids are packed back into their Nuclei with identical copies of their DNA. The Nuclei Reform! The Mitotic Spindle disappears as the Cytoskeleton Mostly goes back to Cell Structure/Organization Roles. EXCEPT for Splitting the Cytoplasm in Animal Cells. The Cytoskeleton forms the Cleavage Furrow that Separates the Cells = CYTOKINESIS!! You Should be able to Always Identify Telophase due to:

Mitosis – Asexual Cell Division THE END! TWO IDENTICAL DAUGHTER CELLS!! For Replacement and Growth – Equal Cells!!! What are they going to do NOW?!