Process of Cell Division: Mitosis

Introduction

Plants and animals grow by increasing the number of cells in their bodies. The cells divide mitotically, and the number of chromosomes in the daughter cells remains the same as in the maternal cells. Mitotically dividing cells in plants can be found in cells from increasing root tips and the apex of shoot buds. In contrast, in animals, similar cells can be easily extracted from a vertebrate’s bone marrow. Cells from the epithelium of fish gills and the tail of growing frog tadpole larvae are also useful for examining the mitotic division of animal cells. 

Procedure

The procedure to conduct this experiment is as follows:

• Place the permanent slide on the stage of a compound microscope. 
• Observe the slide under the lower magnification (10X objective) to search the dividing cells.
• Then, observe these dividing cells under higher magnification (40X objective).

Conclusion

Mitosis involves various stages, such as interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Starting with a preparatory phase called interphase, followed by a nuclear division called karyokinesis. Later in the prophase stage, the chromosomes shorten and thicken; in metaphase, chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell. Next, in anaphase, chromatids break apart at the centromere and move to opposite poles, followed by telophase, where two nuclei formed after nuclear membrane reform around each group of chromosomes and finally, cytokinesis, where the division of cytoplasm takes place by furrowing at the equator which finally leads to separation of daughter cells.

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