Both anaphase and cytokinesis depend on filaments for movement. Compare and contrast the role of filaments, and the mechanism for movement in the movement of chromatids in anaphase, The Role of Filaments in Anaphase and Cytokinesis

The Role of Filaments in Anaphase and Cytokinesis

Anaphase and cytokinesis are two essential phases of mitosis, during which the chromosomes and cytoplasm divide, respectively. Both processes rely on the movement of filaments to ensure that the cell divides accurately. Anaphase is the stage of mitosis when the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell. During this phase, two filaments, microtubules and actin filaments, play a role. Microtubules attach to the centromeres and pull the chromatids to opposite poles of the cell (Chi et al., 2018). Actin filaments also contribute to the movement of the chromatids by creating tension on the cell membrane, which allows the chromatids to move freely (Li et al., 2021). Cytokinesis, on the other hand, requires the movement of the cell membrane to separate the cytoplasm, and thus the cell, into two. This movement is driven by the formation of a contractile ring, which is composed of actin filaments and myosin. The actin filaments are arranged in a helical pattern and form the scaffold for the contractile ring, while myosin drives the contraction of the ring, which causes the cell membrane to separate (Yamada et al., 2016). Cont…