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A deconvolved wide-field fluorescence microscope image of human HeLa cancer cells undergoing mitosis - various stages shown - bottom left, metaphase; top anaphase; bottom right telophase and far right early interphase. The chromosomes show up white with a DAPI stain. The cytoskeleton/spindle microtubules are blue/purple. The red is Aurora B, a protein kinase involved in the polymerisation/depolymerisation of microtubules during mitosis.

Human HeLa cancer cells, mitosis

Human chromosomes in early anaphase. At this stage the chromosomes have started to separate from each other and move towardds opposite poles of the cell.

HeLa cell in anaphase. The chromosomes are stained blue and the microtubules forming the spindle are stained green. The pink dots associated with each chromosome are the kinetochores which attach the chromosomes, at the centromere, to the spindle allowing them to be pulled towards the opposite poles of the cell.

Human cell in anaphase

Metaphase in a rat embronic fibroblast cell. The chromosomes (blue) are lined up along the metaphase plate. They are attached to the microtubules (red) at their centromeres. The green dots highlight a specialised protein that binds to the plus end of the microtubules, driving their movement of the chromosomes along the microtubule during the anaphase stage of cell division.

Chromosomes at metaphase

Nucleus in prometaphase. The chromosomes are stained green. The chromatin has condensed but there is not yet complete attachment of the chromosomes to the spindle (not visible in the image).

HeLa cell early in cytokinesis. The chromatin is stained red and the microtubules, green. The chromosomes have separated from each other and decondensed. The cells have flattened and the nuclear envelope has reformed.

Human cell early in cytokinesis

A deconvolved wide-field fluorescence microscope image of human HeLa cancer cells in prometaphase of mitosis. The chromosomes are green (DAPI stain for DNA). The microtubules of the cytoskeleton/spindle are pink. The blue fluorescence is a cytoplasmic GTPase.

Human HeLa cancer cells, prometaphase

A deconvolved wide-field fluorescence microscope image of a human HeLa cancer cell undergoing aberrant mitosis - the spindle has three poles. The microtubules of the spindle show yellow. The purple is Aurora B, a protein kinase involved in the polymerisation/depolymerisation of the microtubules. The centromeres are blue.

Human HeLa cancer cell, tripolar mitosis

A deconvolved wide-field fluorescence microscope image of human HeLa cancer cells undergoing cytokinesis (cell division). The chromosomes are red (DAPI stain for DNA). The microtubules of the cytoskeleton/spindle are purple, and the actin white. The green is Aurora B, a protein kinase involved in the polymerisation/depolymerisation of the microtubules during mitosis and cytokinesis.

Human HeLa cancer cells, cytokinesis

The stages of cell division starting with interphase (red) at the top. Progressing anticlockwise the stages shown are: early prophase (orange), late prophase (DNA condensation, yellow), prometaphase (incomplete chromosome attachment, green), metaphase (chromosomes all attached and aligned, light blue), anaphase (chromosome separation, dark blue), late anaphase (violet) and telophase (pink).

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Human HeLa cancer cells, mitosis

Human chromosomes in early anaphase. At this stage the chromosomes have started to separate from each other and move towardds opposite poles of the cell.

Human cell in anaphase

Chromosomes at metaphase

Nucleus in prometaphase. The chromosomes are stained green. The chromatin has condensed but there is not yet complete attachment of the chromosomes to the spindle (not visible in the image).

Human cell early in cytokinesis

Human HeLa cancer cells, prometaphase

Human HeLa cancer cell, tripolar mitosis

Human HeLa cancer cells, cytokinesis

Human chromosomes during cell division

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Human HeLa cancer cells, mitosis

Human chromosomes in early anaphase. At this stage the chromosomes have started to separate from each other and move towardds opposite poles of the cell.

Human cell in anaphase

Chromosomes at metaphase

Nucleus in prometaphase. The chromosomes are stained green. The chromatin has condensed but there is not yet complete attachment of the chromosomes to the spindle (not visible in the image).

Human cell early in cytokinesis

Human HeLa cancer cells, prometaphase

Human HeLa cancer cell, tripolar mitosis

Human HeLa cancer cells, cytokinesis

Human chromosomes during cell division

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

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