metaphase
- Related Topics:
- cell division
metaphase, in mitosis and meiosis, the stage of cell division characterized by the alignment of the chromosomes along the midline of the cell. Metaphase is preceded by prophase and is followed by anaphase.
The mitotic spindle, which is widest at the middle of the cell and tapers toward its poles, forms in the area formerly occupied by the nucleus. When the nuclear membrane dissolves in prophase, some of the microtubules of the spindle are captured by protein complexes on the centromeres of the chromosomes, known as kinetochores. Eventually these microtubules align midway between the poles of the spindle, positioning the kinetochores and their associated chromosomes along the equatorial plane of the cell. At the conclusion of metaphase, the chromatid pairs are positioned to separate.