telophase

American  

[tel-uh-feyz, tee-luh-] / ˈtɛl əˌfeɪz, ˌti lə- /

noun

Biology.

1. the final stage of meiosis or mitosis, in which the separated chromosomes reach the opposite poles of the dividing cell and the nuclei of the daughter cells form around the two sets of chromosomes.

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telophase British  

/ ˈtɛləˌfeɪz /

noun

1. the final stage of mitosis, during which a set of chromosomes is present at each end of the cell and a nuclear membrane forms around each, producing two new nuclei See also prophase metaphase anaphase

2. the corresponding stage of the first division of meiosis

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telophase Scientific  

/ tĕl′ə-fāz′ /

1. The final phase of cell division, in which membranes form around the two groups of chromosomes, each at opposite ends of the cell, to produce the two nuclei of the daughter cells. The spindle disappears, and the cytoplasm usually divides (in the process called cytokinesis). In mitosis, telophase is preceded by anaphase. In meiosis, telophase occurs twice, once as part of the first meiotic division (when it is usually called telophase I) and once during the second meiotic division (when it is usually called telophase II). During telophase I, the members of pairs of homologous chromosomes which have separated during anaphase I (anaphase of the first meiotic division) regroup at the two ends of the cell. During telophase II, the individual chromatids that separated during anaphase II (anaphase of the second meiotic division) regroup at the ends of the cell.

2. See more at meiosis mitosis

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Other Word Forms

• telophasic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of telophase

First recorded in 1895–1900; telo- ² + phase

Explanation

Telophase is the last step of cell division, when chromosomes move in opposite directions so two new cells can be formed from one. When a cell is finishing the process of meiosis or mitosis, it goes through a phase in which it's basically getting ready to split into two new cells — telophase. This stage of cell division gets its name from the Greek telos, "end." During telophase, nuclear membranes form around the divided chromosomes, and the cell walls start to divide, splitting down the middle.

Example Sentences

Prophase and telophase portions of meiosis and mitosis are the same.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Mitosis is divided into four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

During telophase, the chromosomes spread out into a tangle of chromatin.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

The remainder of the typical telophase events may or may not occur depending on the species.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

“Well, good job hashtag-educated-guessing, but it’s actually telophase two. See, the chromosomes have been divided into four separate haploids.”

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller