In which phase of mitosis do the spindle microtubules pull apart the daughter chromatids to each pole?

During anaphase, the spindle microtubules are responsible for separating the sister chromatids and pulling them toward opposite poles of the cell. This is a critical phase in mitosis, as it ensures that each daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes once the cell divides.

At the start of anaphase, the connections between the sister chromatids are cleaved, allowing them to be pulled apart. The microtubules shorten, exerting tension and moving the chromatids toward each pole. This movement is essential for the equitable distribution of genetic material, which is crucial for the viability and function of the resulting daughter cells.

In the earlier phases, such as prophase and metaphase, the chromatids are either condensing and becoming visible (prophase) or align at the cell's equatorial plane (metaphase), but do not experience the separation that occurs in anaphase. Telophase follows anaphase, where the separated chromatids start to de-condense back into chromatin, and the nuclear envelope begins to reform, but during this phase, the pulling apart of chromatids has already been completed. The actions in anaphase are fundamental for ensuring that the division of cellular material proceeds correctly, which is