BRAINCAKEMetaphase
Metaphase is the second stage of mitosis, following prophase. By this stage the nuclear envelope has broken down and the spindle is fully formed.
The main events of metaphase are:
• Spindle fibres attach to the centromeres. Each chromosome is attached at its centromere, and the two sister chromatids are attached to spindle fibres from opposite poles.
• Chromosomes line up on the equator. The spindle fibres pull the chromosomes into a single line across the middle of the cell, called the equator (or metaphase plate). Each chromosome lies separately; they are not in homologous pairs.
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Key terms in this lesson
- spindle checkpoint
- A checkpoint during metaphase of mitosis that checks every chromosome is correctly attached to the spindle before anaphase begins.
- karyotype
- A photograph or image of an individual's chromosomes, arranged in homologous pairs in order of size.
More in The Cell Cycle
- The Cell Cycle
- Control of the Cell Cycle
- Mitosis
- Prophase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
- Asexual Reproduction
All 18 lessons in The Cell Cycle · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics