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Metaphase

• (Science: cell biology) The stage of mitosis (and meiosis) following prophase and preceding anaphase. At this stage, the condensed chromosomes have aligned along the metaphase (or equatorial) plate, an imaginary plane located between the poles of a dividing cell, while the microtubules formed during prophase would then attach themselves to kinetochores.

• A stage in nuclear Division occurring once in mitosis and twice in meiosis, where chromosomes become polarised at the equator of the spindle fibres.