What happens before mitosis begins?

Answer 1

the stage before mitosis is called interphase and majority of the time the cell has is spent in interphase. during interphase the cell acquires nutrients and the DNA replicates.

Answer 2

Mitosis is the process that facilitates the equal partitioning of replicated chromosomes into two identical groups. Before partitioning begin the chromosomes must be aligned so that the separation process can occur in an orderly fashion.

Answer 3

Before mitosis occurs, interphase (not an actual phase of mitosis since the cell is not in dividing) happens. Mitosis occurs in the M Phase along with cytokinesis (the actual pinching off of the cytoplasm and the cell membrane). Interphase contains 3 phases which are the G1 Phase (Gap 1 phase) S Phase, and the G2 Phase. In G1 the cell goles through normal cell functions. In S Phase DNA is replicated. In G2 Phase the cell prepares for mitosis and cytokinesis. There are some great videos on YouTube under the search "Mitosis."

Answer 4

Before a cell can enter cell division, it needs to prepare itself by replicating its genetic information and all of the organelles. All of the preparations are done during the interphase. Interphase proceeds in three stages, G1, S, and G2. Cell division operates in a cycle. Therefore, interphase is preceded by the previous cycle of mitosis and cytokenesis.

G1 Phase

After mitosis is complete the new daughter cell begins to accelerate its biochemical processes which were slowed down by mitosis. The length of the G1 phase is the difference from fast dividing cells to slow dividing cells. The G1 phase can be slowed by reducing the nutrients available in a system - thus the cell will take longer to build up the resources necessary for cell division. If there is a severe depletion in nutrients the cells can virtually stop growing. It is interesting to note that cells that aren't growing are always stopped in the G1 phase, being mitotically arrested. This suggests that once the cell enters the S phase, it is committed to cell division, regardless of the external cell conditions.

S Phase

The S phase begins with the replication of the cellular DNA. This is described in further detail in DNA replication (link). When the cellular DNA has been duplicated, leaving the cell with twice as many chromosomes (each chromosome is made up of two identical chromatids), the cell moves onto the G2 phase.

G2 Phase

During this phase proteins, such as kinase (which catalyzes protein phosphorylation), which are necessary for cell division are synthesized at this time. The chromosome begins to condense and the proteins necessary for construction of the mitotic spindle also are synthesized. When the chromosomes become visible the cell enters the first stage of mitosis, prophase.

Answer 5

Before mitosis starts, there is a period called interphase in which the cell prepares for mitosis. During this phase, the cell grows and functions like a normal cell would and also replicates the DNA in preparation for mitosis.

Answer 6

Activity in the chromosomes must occur before the beginning of mitosis. The cells will enter the S1 phase in preparation to divide.