telophase

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Telophase (pronounced tee-low-faze or tell-uh-faze) from the ancient Greek "τελος" (end) and "φασις" (stage), is a stage in both meiosis and mitosis in a eukaryotic cell.

During telophase, the effects of prophase and prometaphase (the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disintegrating) are reversed. Two daughter nuclei form in the cell. The nuclear envelopes of the daughter cells are formed from the fragments of the nuclear envelope of the parent cell. As the nuclear membrane can form around each pair of chromatids, the nucleoli reappear. The chromosomes also unwind back into the chromatin they are supposed to be. Telophase accounts for approximately 2% of the cell cycle's duration.

Reappearance of the nuclear membrane and nucleolus: the Telophase

Cytokinesis usually occurs at the same time that the nuclear envelope is reforming, yet they are distinct processes.

In plant cells, vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus move to the middle of the cell along a microtubule scaffold called the phragmoplast. This structure directs packets of cell wall materials which coalesce into a disk-shaped structure called a cell plate. The cell plate grows out centrifugally and eventually develops into a proper cell wall, separating the two nuclei.

Once this is finished, mitosis is complete, and cytokinesis begins.

External links

Look up telophase in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Telophase at Online Biology Dictionary

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