In which phase of mitosis do the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell?

During mitosis, the phase in which the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell is called anaphase. In this stage, the sister chromatids, which are the duplicated chromosomes, are pulled apart by the spindle fibers attached to their centromeres. This action ensures that each new daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes.

As anaphase progresses, the chromatids move toward the poles of the cell, driven by the contraction of the spindle fibers. This separation is crucial for ensuring genetic stability in the resulting daughter cells. Once the chromatids reach the poles, the cell prepares for the next phase, telophase, where the cell begins to divide. Understanding the correct sequence of stages in mitosis is important, as each phase plays a specific role in cell division and the maintenance of genetic information.