Studies of anaphase are approaching a golden age. Several different disciplines have contributed immensely to advances in our understanding of cell-cycle control and chromosome and spindle dynamics during mitosis. This article describes control of anaphase based on results obtained from Schizosaccharomyces pombe cut (cell untimely torn) mutants. These temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated by selection for uncoordinated mitosis with aberrant sister-chromatid separation and post-anaphase events. Characterization of some of the cut gene products has led to identification of novel molecular events related to chromosome condensation, sister-chromatid separation, anaphase-promoting proteolysis, fatty-acid metabolism, and cell-cycle arrest induced by stress or a replication block.