anaphase

American  

[an-uh-feyz] / ˈæn əˌfeɪz /

noun

Biology.

1. the stage in mitosis or meiosis following metaphase in which the daughter chromosomes move away from each other to opposite ends of the cell.

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anaphase British  

/ ˈænəˌfeɪz /

noun

1. the third stage of mitosis, during which the chromatids separate and migrate towards opposite ends of the spindle See also prophase metaphase telophase

2. the corresponding stage of the first division of meiosis

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anaphase Scientific  

/ ăn′ə-fāz′ /

1. The stage of cell division in mitosis or meiosis in which the doubled set of chromosomes separates into two identical groups that move to opposite ends of the cell. Anaphase is preceded by metaphase and followed by telophase.

2. See more at meiosis mitosis

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Other Word Forms

• anaphasic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of anaphase

First recorded in 1885–90; ana- + phase

Explanation

Anaphase is a stage in cell division that happens towards the end of mitosis. During anaphase, chromosomes move away from each other. Your biology teacher probably has a lot to say about anaphase, which comes after metaphase and before telophase during mitosis. Anaphase is important because the movement of chromosomes to the outer edges of the cell paves the way for cell division, when one cell actually splits into two completely separate cells. Anaphase was first coined in German, from the Greek ana-, "back."

Example Sentences

These steps are homologous chromosome pairing, crossover exchanges, sister chromatids remaining attached during anaphase, and suppression of DNA replication in interphase.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The chiasmata remain until anaphase I. The number of chiasmata varies according to the species and the length of the chromosome.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

During anaphase, the sister chromatids at the equatorial plane are split apart at the centromere.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

In cells such as animal cells that lack cell walls, cytokinesis begins following the onset of anaphase.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

First spermatocyte, anaphase, showing elongated centrosome and diverging univalent chromosomes.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria