Describe what happens in anaphase, include a picture of the process

Answer 1

Anaphase is the third stage of mitosis, the process of cell division. During anaphase, the sister chromatids, which are identical copies of the chromosomes, separate and move towards opposite ends (poles) of the cell. This ensures that each daughter cell will receive a full set of chromosomes.

Here is a step-by-step description of anaphase:

1. The spindle fibers, which are formed by microtubules, begin to contract and shorten, pulling the sister chromatids apart.
2. The centromeres, which hold the sister chromatids together, divide.
3. Each sister chromatid is now considered an individual chromosome and becomes mobile.
4. The chromosomes move towards the opposite poles of the cell, driven by the contraction of the spindle fibers.
5. The cell membrane begins to elongate to prepare for cytokinesis, the final phase of cell division.
6. As anaphase progresses, the chromosomes become visibly separated and arranged at each pole of the cell.

Here is a simple diagram illustrating the process of anaphase:


Note: The depicted diagram is a simplified representation, and in real cells, anaphase involves more complex molecular mechanisms.