Inside "Cell Division":

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CancerQuest > Introduction to Cancer Biology > Introduction to Cell Division and Mitosis > The Stages of the Cell Cycle > The Stages of Mitosis

The Stages of Mitosis

The cell shown below is in the beginning of prophase and the condensed, X-shaped chromosomes are visible.

Each of these chromosomes is actually composed of two identical strands of DNA. The DNA is doubled earlier in the cell cycle at S phase. We will come back to the S phase shortly.

In the next phase of mitosis (metaphase), the chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell (at the metaphase plate) in preparation for being divided equally into the daughter cells.