Chromosomes have a double rodded structure giving them the stereotypical "x" shape. The shape of a chromosome derives from the sister chromatids connecting in the middle by the centromere, an apparatus comes into play later in each cycle. This allows organization of the abundant amount of DNA into small and tightly packed structures. After all of the DNA strands in a somatic cell condense, prophase has completed in mitosis. .
Meiosis, however, has one more part to prophase. In meiosis, the DNA goes through the process of crossing-over. Crossing-over recombines the parental genetic makeup into the individual's own unique arrangement. Each chromosome from dad's DNA has a matching chromosome from mom's DNA, called homologous pairs (homologs). During crossing-over, homologs form synapses, connecting the pairs, in a structure known as a tetrad. To summarize, meiosis ends prophase with two sets of genetically, nonidentical homologous pairs of sister chromatids; mitosis ends prophase with two sets of genetically identical homologous pairs of sister chromatids. Prophase begins to set the stage of differences between mitosis and meiosis. .
One of the shorter phases in either cell cycle, metaphase commences with all of the chromosomes aligning at the metaphase plane in mitosis. In meiosis, the tetrads, from crossing-over, align at the plane. The metaphase plane bisects the cell. Next, two small organelles called centrioles move to opposing poles of the cell. These organelles created a thread-like structure known as microtubules. The threads reach toward the homologous pairs and attach to the centromere on each of the sister chromatids. Now that metaphase has finished, the next phase for both cell cycles, anaphase, can begin. Mitosis and meiosis follow the same general path in anaphase, however the way sister chromatids separate differ. During this stage of cell cycle, the cell starts to lengthen.