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.

There are many ways that mitosis and meiosis differ, in this question we are primed to look at the differences in the end products of each type of cell division.

Mitosis creates two new cells that are identical to the parent cell (diploid). Meiosis creates 4 new cells with half the genetic information (haploid) in each cell, and the cells are nonidentical to the parent cell and to their sister cells.

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Interphase would be first as this is the part of the cycle cycle that the cell prepares to enter Mitosis. The key indicators of prophase are that the nuclear envelope is still intact and the chromosomes are beginning to pair up sister chromatids. The mitotic spindle is also beginning to form. Premetaphase, the next phase, is when the spindle has attached itself to the respective chromosomes and they begin to migrate to the center of the cell. In Metaphase the chromosomes have lined up on the mitotic plate and beginning to separate. In anaphase each sister chromatid moves to its respective side of the cell, as it is being pulled there by the mitotic spindle. The last phase of mitosis is telophase, which is indicated by the beginning of the cell splitting into two, called cytokinesis.

Anaphase is where the duplicated chromosomes split, disconnected at the centromere, and each sister chromatid is moved towards opposite sides of the cells. 

Important indications that the cell is in telophase are that the chromosomes have been moved towards the opposite sides of the cell. The nuclear envelope does begin to form around the new respective nucleus of each daughter cell and the cell itself begins the stages of cytokinesis, or this splitting of the cell into two daughter cells.

Cytokinesis is the division of the cell into two respective daughter cells. Cytokinesis can start as early as anaphase and moves through with telophase. The most important thing in this part of the process is to make sure that there is one nucleus in each new cell being formed. A protein filament ring, called the contractile ring, causes the middle of the cell to shrink and pinch off to form the two separate daughter cells.

During premetaphase the nuclear envelop has broken down and this allows the spindle, or the microtubules, begin to attach to the chromosomes at the kinetochore. The microtubules begin to put force on the chromosomes to begin moving them to the middle of the cell.