MITOSIS METAPHASE

Meristem of an onion root composed of undifferentiated embryonic cells. Mitosis (cell division) is active in the meristem allowing the root to lengthen. Chromosomes (*) in the mother cell are duplicated during mitosis leading to the formation of two daughter cells with the same chromosomes. There are four phases of mitosis: prophase (chromosome contraction and duplication), metaphase (arrangement of the chromosomes along the equatorial plane of the spindle), anaphase (separation of the chromosomes into two groups), telophase (formation of two nuclei and division of the mother cell into two daughter cells. The cell in the center of the image, viewed from the side, is in the metaphase. X4800