Art Imitates Science: Mitosis in Action

Cells replicate by splitting in two through a process called mitosis, which partitions roughly equal amounts of their contents into each new cell. The cell's genetic material, DNA, is contained in a ball-like compartment called the nucleus. The cell only has one nucleus, and it can't just be hacked into two equal parts for the new cells.

Thus, before the cell can split, it must create two copies of its genetic information. Here's how it works:

Step 1 - Prophase - DNA condenses from a loose coil into several pairs of chromosomes. Structures called centrioles move to opposite ends of the cell.