Fluorescence light micrograph of human cells showing the stages of nuclear and cell division, starting with interphase (second from left at top). Progressing anticlockwise the stages shown are: early prophase, with centrosome not yet separated; late prophase, with centrosome separated and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) condensation; prometaphase, with incomplete chromosome attachment; metaphase, with chromosomes all attached and aligned; anaphase, with chromosome separation; telophase, with the formation of midbody and cells beginning to flatten; early cytokinesis, with chromosomes decondensed and the nuclear envelope reformed; and late cytokinesis, with the cells moving apart. |