What happens in prophase of mitosis?

During mitosis and meiosis, prophase is the first phase of the division cycle after DNA replication in G and S phases. The main value of prophase is that the chromatin condenses to become chromosomes, which will later be separated in various ways during the final stages of mitosis and meiosis. read more

Prophase (from the Greek πρό, "before" and φάσις, "stage") is the first stage of cell division in both mitosis and meiosis. Beginning after interphase, DNA has already been replicated when the cell enters prophase. read more

Early during prophase, the first stage of mitosis, the chromosomes become visible with a light microscope as they condense (that is, as they shorten, coil, and thicken). Also, a spindle apparatus (blue strands in the upper two figures at left) begins to extend outward from each of the two centrosomes. read more