anaphase

The stage in mitosis or meiosis in which the chromosomes migrate from the equatorial plate to the pole of the cells. In mitosis, a complete set of daugther chromosomes (46 in humans) migrates towards each pole. In the 1st 1/2 of meiosis, one member of each homologous pair (23 in humans), consisting of 2 chromatids joined at the centromere, migrates towards each pole. In the 2nd 1/2 of meiosis, the centromere divides & the 2 chromatids separate with one moving toward each pole.

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.