Which stage directly precedes metaphase in mitosis?

• A. Prometaphase.
• B. Anaphase.
• C. Telophase.
• D. Cytokinesis.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the sequence of mitotic stages and what happens just before the chromosomes line up in the middle. Before metaphase, the chromosomes have condensed and the nuclear envelope breaks down, allowing spindle fibers to attach to kinetochores on the chromosomes. This stage is called prometaphase, when chromosomes begin to interact with the spindle and move toward the center but aren’t fully aligned yet. Only after prometaphase do the chromosomes settle into a neat lineup along the metaphase plate during metaphase.

For context, after metaphase comes anaphase, where sister chromatids are pulled apart, then telophase, where new nuclear envelopes form around each set of chromosomes, and finally cytokinesis, which divides the cell's cytoplasm.