1. Interphase (Not technically cell division, but essential for it):
* G1 (First Gap): The cell grows and synthesizes new proteins and organelles.
* S (Synthesis): The cell replicates its DNA, creating two identical copies of each chromosome.
* G2 (Second Gap): The cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis.
2. Mitosis (Cell division):
* Prophase: The chromosomes condense, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the spindle fibers form.
* Metaphase: The chromosomes line up at the center of the cell, attached to the spindle fibers.
* Anaphase: The sister chromatids of each chromosome separate and are pulled to opposite poles of the cell.
* Telophase: The chromosomes decondense, the nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes, and the cytoplasm divides (cytokinesis), resulting in two daughter cells.
Important Note: These stages are specific to mitosis, which is a type of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells. There's another type of cell division called meiosis that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the original cell.
