Prophase is the first stage of mitosis. The cell cytoplasm and nucleus undergo several changes. At this point the mitotic spindle is forming but the nucleus is still intact. In this phase the chromosomes become tightly packed and the nucleoli disappear. Each chromosome is paired with its sister chromatid joined in the middle at the centromere. 

The condensed chromosomes are aligned on the metaphase plate (an imaginary line in the middle of the cell). They align this way because of the microtubules that are pulling them to the opposite sides. 

The cell in the picture about is in the prometphase stage. Key indicators of this phase are the breakdown of the nuclear envelope around the genetic material and the spindle beginning to interact with the chromosomes.

The cell pictured above is in prophase. Key indicators that the cell is in this stage are that the nuclear envelope is still intact and chromosomes have become condensed and paired up with sister chromatids.

Mitosis has only one round of chromosome separation and creates all cells, other than sex cells. For example skin cells. This process ends with two diploid cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell.

Meiosis is the process that generates the cells that occur in sexual reproduction cells, otherwise known as gametes. This process, since it has two rounds of chromosome separation, will end with 4 haploid cells, or half the genetic information of the parent cell.

The correct order to the phases is: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.

During prophase, the nuclear membrane dissolves and the DNA condenses into chromosomes. The chromosomes travel to the center of the cell during metaphase and align, allowing spindle fibers to bind to the center of each chromosome. The spindle fibers contract during anaphase, separating the sister chromatids and pulling them to opposite poles of the cell. During telophase, the nuclear membrane begins to re-form and a ring of contractile filaments begins to pinch the cytoplasm to create two separate daughter cells (this is known as the cleavage furrow). Following telophase, the daughter cells completely separate; the division of the cytoplasm is called cytokinesis and is often considered a separate event from mitosis.

The process of mitosis involves separating the already duplicated chromosomes (sister chromatids). The parent cell doubled its DNA during the S phase of interphase so that it now has four copies of each gene (two copies of each allele). In humans this is equivalent to two copies of all 23 chromosomes from the mother, and two copies of all 23 chromosomes from the father, sometimes called 2x2n or 4n depending on the textbook.

During division, each chromosome is divided into its component chromatids. The result is a single copy of each chromosome (two copies of each gene, one from the mother and one from the father) in each daughter cell. Because there are two copies of each gene in the daughter cells, they are considered diploid. Sister chromatids are identical genetic copies; separating sister chromatids will result in identical daughter cells.

In contrast, the final product of meiosis is four nonidentical haploid cells. Each daughter cell at the end of meiosis carries only one copy of each gene (haploid) and is nonidentical to the other three daughter cells due to the phenomenon of independent assortment.

Spindle fibers are specialized microtubule structures that guide the movement of chromosomes and chromatids during mitosis. During mitosis, the spindle fibers will bind to a protein complex (known as the kinetochore) at the center of the chromosome. The kinetochore serves as an anchor, allowing the spindle fibers to retract and separate the sister chromatids. Centrioles serve as the opposite anchor point, keeping the other end of the spindle fiber attached to the pole of the cell.

Viscles are small membrane-bound sacs that can be used to transport proteins and other molecules either within the cell, or between the cell and the extracellular matrix. Microfiliments are another component of the cytoskeleton and are frequently associated with motility; the protein actin is a microfiliment.

Recall PMAT mnemonic for remembering the steps in mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase. Mitosis involves the separation of the (already-duplicated) chromosomes. The chromosomes condense, the mitotic spindle begins to form, and the nuclear envelope begins to break down during prophase. During metaphase, the chromosomes line up on the metaphase plate. In anaphase, the sister chromosomes begin getting pulled to opposite ends of the cell. Telophase is the opposite of prophase, and the cell undergoes cytokinesis.

Metaphase, by definition, is the point in which the sister chromatids align themselves along the middle of the plane which is known as the metaphase plate. 

The responses explain interphase (chromosomes entangled with one another, enveloped in the nuclear membrane) and anaphase (chromosomes are at separate poles with kinetochore attachments). The other two responses are not phases of mitosis.