For all you numerous readers who were worried about me because I didn’t post- its not because I don’t love you.
Just had a biology test. Pretty rough. There was quite a time constraint, and I had to do the last page in 2 minutes right before the bell.
So, anyway, I’m going to my brothers holiday performance tonight. Gotta do all my homework fast.
Back to biology and mitosis and stuff. Ok, so mitosis is normal nuclear division, remember? There are four phases of mitosis- prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
The first part, prophase, starts with the loosely packed DNA condensing in to chromosomes, which are essentially big blobs of DNA and protein. Many chromosomes look a bit like a capital X. Each half of the X is called a chromatid. Both chromatids in a chromosome are identical. Little fibers called the spindle also form. These will help the chromosomes move into the right places and also support the cell.
Next, during metaphase, some of the spindle fibers attach to either end of the cell (called the poles). Others attach the chromosomes to the poles. These fibers, called kinetochore fibers, move the chromosomes into the center, or the equator, of the cell.
Then comes anaphase. The chromatids separate, with one from each chromosome going to either end of the cell. Again, the kinetochore fibers aid in this movement.
Last in mitosis is telophase. The spindle fibers dissolve, and the chromosomes decondense back into DNA. The cell prepares for the cellular division, called cytokinesis. But that’s next time.
Till next time,
Dr. Harry Bear
