anaphase A stage that occurs once in mitosis and twice in meiosis and that involves the separation of chromosomal material to give two sets of chromosomes which will eventually form part of new cell nuclei. The separation is controlled by the spindle. In anaphase of mitosis and anaphase II of meiosis, the centromere becomes functionally double and daughter chromosomes separate from the equator, moving towards the opposite poles of the spindle. The spindle then elongates and pushes the two groups of chromosomes further apart. In anaphase I of meiosis, the centromere does not divide.

anaphase The stage of mitosis or meiosis at which the centromere becomes functionally double, and daughter chromatids separate from the equator, moving towards the opposite poles of the spindle. The spindle then elongates and pushes the two groups of chromosomes further apart. In the second stage (anaphase II) of meiosis, centromeres do not divide and homologous chromosomes are separated.

anaphase One of several stages of cell division. In mitosis the chromatids of each chromosome move apart to opposite ends of the spindle. In the first anaphase of meiosis, the paired homologous chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends; in the second anaphase the chromatids move apart, as in mitosis.

anaphase (an-ă-fayz) n. the third stage of mitosis and of each division of meiosis.