metaphase

views updated May 23 2018

metaphase The stage of cell division during which the membrane around the nucleus breaks down, the spindle forms, and centromeres attach the chromosomes to the equator of the spindle. In the first metaphase of meiosis pairs of chromosomes (bivalents) are attached, while in mitosis and the second metaphase of meiosis, individual chromosomes are attached.

metaphase

views updated May 29 2018

metaphase A stage of mitosis or meiosis at which the chromosomes move about within the spindle until they eventually arrange themselves in its equatorial region.

metaphase

views updated May 18 2018

metaphase The stage of mitosis or meiosis at which the chromosomes move about within the spindle until they eventually arrange themselves in its equatorial region.

metaphase

views updated May 14 2018

metaphase (met-ă-fayz) n. the second stage of mitosis and of each division of meiosis, in which the spindle forms and the chromosomes line up at the centre of the spindle, with their centromeres attached to the spindle fibres.