

Major Events in Mitosis

Definition: The process of cell division whereby chromosomes are duplicated and distributed equally to the daughter cells. It is also called as Equational division.

Why mitosis?
Mitosis is the cell division responsible for growth and repair.

An adult human being is made up of billions of cells and all cells have the same genetic component. This genetic stability is achieved by mitosis. If crossing over and recombination is common in mitosis, then there will be variation in each cell division. So that the cells of an organism may be of high genetic variability and may lead to loss of function, harmony and even the individuality at the level of species.

Mitosis leads to the production of two cells which are genetically identical to that of the parent cell (that is chromosome number remains the same).
Major events in Mitosis
  • Prophase: condensation of chromosomes begins
  • Metaphase: arrangement of chromosomes at the centre often called metaphase plate or equatorial plate
  • Anaphase: separation of sister chromatids and movement towards the poles
  • Telophase: restoration of interphase condition
  • Cytokinesis: it is the division of cytoplasm
Major Events in Mitosis
Major Events in Mitosis

Major Features
G0 phase
Stable, nondividing period  of variable length


G1 phase
Growth and development of the cell;G1/S checkpoint

S phase

Synthesis of DNA

G2 phase
Preparation for division; G2/S checkpoint

M phase

Chromosome condense and mitotic spindle forms

Nuclear envelop disintegrates , spindle microtubules anchor to kinetochores

Chromosomes align on the metaphase plate

Sister chromatids separate, becoming individual chromosomes that migrate toward spindle poles

Chromosomes arrive at spindle poles, the nuclear envelop reforms, and the condensed  chromosomes relax

Cytoplasm divides; cell wall forms in plant cells

Major Functions of Mitosis
1) Growth of the organism: An adult human being is made up of billions of cells and all cells have the same genetic component. This genetic stability is achieved by mitosis. All these cells are formed from the first cell zygote by mitosis. Zygote divides by mitosis to form genetically identical daughter cells.

2) Repair: In the case of wound healing; that should be replaced with the same type of cells with the same genetic quality. This is achieved by mitosis.

3) Replacement: Take blood cells as example. RBC has a life span of 120 days. After that it should be replaced by new cells. This is achieved by mitosis. Similarly skin cells are replaced continuously

4) In plants, vegetative multiplication is by mitosis (asexual reproduction)



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