Question

The first stage of mitosis, during which the chromosomes inside the nucleus condense and become visible, while the mitotic spindle begins to form, preparing the cell to separate its duplicated chromosomes into two separate daughter cells

Answer 1

The first stage of mitosis is known as **prophase**. During prophase, the chromatin condenses into distinct, visible chromosomes, each consisting of two sister chromatids joined at the centromere. The nucleolus disappears, and the nuclear envelope begins to break down. Additionally, the mitotic spindle, which is composed of microtubules, starts to form from the centrosomes (which move to opposite poles of the cell). This stage is critical as it sets the stage for the alignment and separation of chromosomes in the subsequent phases of mitosis.