can you explain mitosis?

Mitosis is a part of the cell cycle in which the cell divides into two. There are a number of important steps in the process of mitosis including: anaphase, metaphase, prophase and telophase. Before mitosis begins the amount of genetic material within the cell doubles (however it is important to note that the number of chromosomes stays the same yet they contain more genetic material). During prophase, the chromosomes condense + the mitotic spindle begins to form. By the end of prophase both the nucleolus and nuclear envelope have broken down. During metaphase, branches of teh mitotic spindle attach to the chromosomes and line them up at the middle of the cell. During anaphase, the chromosomes are torn in half with each half travelling towards opposite ends of the cell, pulled by the mitotic spindle fibres. During telophase, the chromosomes have been separated at either ends of the cell and the process of 'cytokinesis' begins - which can also be called cell cleavage. This is where the cell splits into half and its contents are split between the two new cells. At the same time the nucleolus and nuclear membranes begin to form again around the chromosomes. At the end of mitosis you have two genetically identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell (in normal human cells this is usually 46)