Somatic cell division, also known as mitosis, is typically divided into several distinct stages. There are four main stages of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Each of these stages plays a vital role in ensuring that the cell’s genetic material is accurately replicated and distributed to the daughter cells.
1. Prophase: During this stage, the chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, and each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids. The nuclear envelope begins to break down, and the mitotic spindle starts to form from the centrosomes.
2. Metaphase: In this stage, the chromosomes align along the metaphase plate (the cell’s equatorial plane). The spindle fibers attach themselves to the centromeres of the chromosomes, ensuring that the chromosomes are properly positioned for separation.
3. Anaphase: Anaphase is characterized by the separation of the sister chromatids as the spindle fibers pull them apart towards opposite poles of the cell. This ensures that each new daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes.
4. Telophase: In this final stage, the chromatids reach the poles of the cell and begin to de-condense back into chromatin. The nuclear envelope re-forms around each set of chromosomes, resulting in two distinct nuclei within the cell.
Following mitosis, the division of the cytoplasm occurs through a process called cytokinesis, which is essential for creating two separate daughter cells. Overall, somatic cell division is a critical process for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.