Which phase of mitosis is characterized by centrioles reaching the ends of the cell?

The phase of mitosis characterized by centrioles reaching the ends of the cell is actually telophase, not metaphase. During telophase, the centrioles, which are involved in organizing the mitotic spindle, are situated at opposite poles of the cell. This positioning is critical as it helps facilitate the final stages of cell division, including the formation of two distinct nuclei as the chromosomes begin to de-condense and the nuclear envelope re-forms around each set of chromosomes.

Metaphase, while an important phase in mitosis, is primarily characterized by the alignment of the chromosomes along the metaphase plate in the center of the cell. During this phase, the spindle fibers, which have extended from the centrioles at the poles, attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes. Therefore, the centrioles do not reach the ends of the cell during this phase, which is a key characteristic of telophase instead.

Interphase is not a phase of mitosis; it is the stage where the cell prepares for division. Prophase is another earlier stage where the chromosomes condense and become visible, and the nuclear envelope starts to break down, but it does not involve the centrioles reaching the ends of the