Cellular division
Cell division is also known as M phase, and it comprises two stages:
- Mitosis: division of the nucleus.
- Cytokinesis: division of the cytoplasm.
At the beginning of the M phase, the duplicated chromosomes at the interphase condense and become visible under the light microscope. Each chromosome has two identical sister chromatids.
The nuclear envelope disintegrates, and then the sister chromatids separate.
Later, the two nuclear envelopes are formed and the cytoplasm divides to form the two daughter cells, each with a nucleus. Thus ends the M phase and the interphase of the next cell cycle will begin again.
Thus, daughter cells have the same genetic information as the parent cell. In the M phase, neither RNA nor proteins are synthesized.