Living organisms have essential units, cells. The cell cycle is organized into a series of differentiated stages and metaphase is one of the most characteristic. If we look at the lexical formation of the term, it is made up of the Greek prefix meta, which means beyond, plus the word phase, which comes from the Greek phasis and means manifestation, appearance or action of showing oneself.
cell division
If we take human cells as a reference, these are formed with the 46 chromosomes of the parents. The first cell or oocyte of the new organism is potentially a fully developed new individual. For this to be viable, a process of cell replication must take place.
In a first stage, the oocyte is divided into two equal cells and each one is programmed to grow and divide into other daughter cells. Thus, with a more complex cell structure, the zygote is formed, which continues to divide until it forms a new structure, the embryo. The embryo continues the duplication process until the formation of a new human being. In all these stages the same genetic information is maintained.
The cell cycle is divided into two major periods: interface and mitosis. The first is divided into three phases: G1, S and G2 (in the first the cells are in constant growth, in the second the genetic material is doubled and in the third the cell is prepared for its final division by protein synthesis).
In mitosis is where the hereditary material is equally distributed.
Metaphase is the second phase of mitosis and a control procedure of cell development takes place in it.
During the process of mitosis there are different stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. In prophase, the centrioles that are located in the nucleus of the cell move away to prepare for the transmission of chromosomes to a next cell.
In metaphase the chromosomes are located in the central part of the cell forming a line (this phenomenon is known as the equatorial plate or mitotic spindle). At this stage of cell mitosis, DNA is in the form of chromosomes and each one of them is made up of two chromatics that are dispersed in the cell’s cytoplasm.
In parallel, the centrioles are located on opposite sides of the cell and it is from these structures that the mitotic spindle is formed.
In a simplified way, it could be affirmed that a control process in cell development takes place in metaphase, since it is verified that the DNA molecules are placed in the correct position so that they are later distributed in an equitable manner.
Once the chromosomes are arranged in the cell, anaphase or separation of the chromosomes occurs. Finally, in telophase, new envelopes are created in the nucleus of the cell.
Photo Fotolia: Ellepigrafica
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