anaphase

views updated

anaphase A stage that occurs once in mitosis and twice in meiosis and that involves the separation of chromosomal material to give two sets of chromosomes which will eventually form part of new cell nuclei. The separation is controlled by the spindle. In anaphase of mitosis and anaphase II of meiosis, the centromere becomes functionally double and daughter chromosomes separate from the equator, moving towards the opposite poles of the spindle. The spindle then elongates and pushes the two groups of chromosomes further apart. In anaphase I of meiosis, the centromere does not divide.

More From encyclopedia.com