Mitosis

As if following a neatly choreographed dance, the sister chromatids separate, rapidly moving toward the pole to which their microtubule is attached. The cell appears "stretched" as the spindle fibers slide past one another, elongating the spindle apparatus and further separating the poles. Shortening of the microtubules by removal of tubulin units pulls the chromosomes closer and closer to the pole. The movement of sister chromatids to opposite sides of the cell completes the equal division and distribution of genetic material.