Prophase is the first stage of mitosis, during which the cell begins to position itself in order to separate the chromatids and divide. During prophase, the nuclear envelope and nucleolus are dissolved and the chromosomes condense. The centrioles and spindle fibers begin to form at opposite poles of the cell.

Chromatid separation is not seen until anaphase.

There are five main steps of mitosis.

• Prophase: the nuclear envelope breaks down, chromosomes condense, and spindle fibers connect to sister chromatids.
• Metaphase: spindle fibers pull sister chromatids to the metaphase plate at the equator of the cell.
• Anaphase: spindle fibers separate sister chromatids to opposite poles of the cell.
• Telophase: chromatids reach the poles of the cell, the spindle fibers detach, and cleavage at the metaphase plate/equator begins to form.
• Cytokinesis: the cell cytoplasm splits completely in half where the cleavage formed, giving two identical daughter cells with the same chromosomes as the parent.

Some scientists classify cytokinesis as its own event, separate from mitosis. Interphase is a portion of the cell cycle for growth, and is not a part of mitotic division.

Mitosis involves four distinct stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Prophase is the first step of mitosis, during which chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope dissolves. Metaphase follows prophase. During metaphase, the chromosomes align in the center of the cell at the equatorial plate and the spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes. Anaphase involves the retraction of the spindle fibers and the separation fo sister chromatids. The nuclear envelope begins to develop and the cell prepares for the final division during telophase. Cytokinesis is not generally included in the phases of mitosis, and refers to the final separation of the cell cytoplasm into two identical daughter cells.

Interphase refers to the portion of the cell cycle during which the cell is not dividing, and includes the G1, S, and G2 phases.

The mitosis (M) phase of the cell cycle has four sequential stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. In the first stage, prophase, each chromosome becomes condensed and more visible, and there is the breakdown of the nuclear membrane and appearance of spindle fibers. In the next phase, metaphase, the chromosomes line up along the metaphasic plate. The spindle fibers are completely formed and are attached to each sister chromatid of the chromosomes. Next, during anaphase, the centromeres holding the sister chromatids together are divided and the sister chromatids are pulled apart by the spindle fibers to opposite poles of the diving cell. During the last phase of mitosis, telophase, the two sets of chromosomes reach the poles of the cell. This is followed by the reformation of the nuclear envelope, uncoiling of the DNA, and disappearance of the spindle fibers.

Centromeres are the structures at the center of each chromosome that hold the sister chomatids together. The division of the centromeres occurs during anaphase. This allows for the separation of each sister chromatid into its respective daughter cell.

Mitosis has four sequential stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. In prophase, each chromosome becomes condensed and more visible, and there is the breakdown of the nuclear membrane and appearance of spindle fibers. In the next phase, metaphase, the chromosomes line up along the metaphasic plate. The spindle fibers are completely formed and are attached to each sister chromatid of the chromosomes. Next, during anaphase, the centromeres holding the sister chromatids together are divided and the sister chromatids are pulled apart by the spindle fibers to opposite poles of the diving cell. During the last phase of mitosis, telophase, the two sets of chromosomes reach the opposite poles of the cell. This is followed by the reformation of the nuclear envelope, uncoiling of the DNA, and disappearance of the spindle fibers. After the M phase is the separation of the cytoplasm, known as cytokinesis, which results in two distinct daughter cells.

Mitosis has four sequential stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. In prophase, each chromosome becomes condensed and more visible, and there is the breakdown of the nuclear membrane and appearance of spindle fibers. In the next phase, metaphase, the chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate. The spindle fibers are completely formed and are attached to each sister chromatid of the chromosomes. Next, during anaphase, the centromeres holding the sister chromatids together are divided and the sister chromatids are pulled apart by the spindle fibers to opposite poles of the diving cell. During the last phase of mitosis, telophase, the two sets of chromosomes reach the opposite poles of the cell. This is followed by the reformation of the nuclear envelope, uncoiling of the DNA, and disappearance of the spindle fibers. After the M phase is the separation of the cytoplasm, known as cytokinesis, which results in two distinct daughter cells.

The G1 phase is the first phase within interphase. It can more easily be remembered as the "first growth" phase. During this period the cell increases its supply of proteins while also increasing the number of organelles (such as ribosomes and mitochondria) in addition to growing in size. This stage is critical toward making sure that the cell has appropriate resources for DNA synthesis. After G1, S phase proceeds. 

G0 phase is a post-mitotic phase. It may be a permanent (as often is the case for neurons) or semi-permanent (for some liver, kidney, and stomach cells) phase. Epithelial cells do not enter G0, allowing these cells to continue to divide throughout an organisms life. 

Mitosis is cellular cloning. This means that Mitosis ends with two identical cells; no variation. Mitosis is how the body repairs skin and other tissues. Because the tissue being repaired needs to match its neighboring cell, there is no need for variation which is exactly what crossing over does. It mixes-n-matches the genetic material amongst chromosomes, which helps to give rise to the variation we see amongst our own species and in all animals that reproduce sexually (Meiosis). 

Metaphase is characterized by the lining up of chromosomes along the "metaphase plate," an imaginary line that divides the cell in half. Following metaphase and during anaphase, the sister chromatids will separate and move towards the poles of the cell.