Which phase of mitosis involves chromosomes lining up in the center of the cell?

During mitosis, the phase where chromosomes align in the center of the cell is called metaphase. This alignment occurs along an imaginary line known as the metaphase plate. At this stage, the chromosomes are fully condensed and can be easily observed through a microscope. This precise arrangement is crucial as it ensures that when the chromosomes are pulled apart in the next phase, each new daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. Proper alignment is critical for the accuracy of cell division, preventing errors that could lead to conditions like aneuploidy, where cells end up with an incorrect number of chromosomes. The other phases of mitosis do not involve this alignment; during prophase, chromosomes condense and become visible, during anaphase, sister chromatids are pulled apart towards opposite poles of the cell, and during telophase, new nuclear membranes form around each set of separated chromosomes.