“I refuse to undergo these changes forcefully!” Argued the unruly chromosome as it twisted and pulled trying to break free from the bonds of the centromere holding it together. With one final pull the chromosome broke! Finally, it was free. 

Swimming away, its partner was left speechless, the other chromosomes screamed and panicked. 

“We’re doomed!!”

“How can we successfully go through mitosis properly now?”

“The cell will crumble and die!!!” 

“WAIT!!” cried out a small voice from the near spot in their soon alignment. 

“I’ll go look for the chromosome, I can bring them back and then we can continue to go through mitosis, you can trust me!!” It was the lone strand left from the unbroken pair of the unruly chromosome. 

And so the chromosome set off to find its missing pair, without it the cell would surely crumble and die or worse…Mutations could occur! There had been rumours of Mutations popping up before, they had come at random but some evolved due to errors within the cell during dna duplication. With a shake, the chromosome swam off in hopes to convince the other that Mitosis truly wasn’t something to be looking down on.

“I don’t want to go through Mitosis!” said the chromosome aloud in a fit. “What if I don’t want to change? What’s the point in doing something so stupid!” it argued, but they were already in the first stage, the chromosome was held by the centromere. 

“But why? We are going through a beautiful stage, it’s life and it’s the way the cycle will go!” Replied the other. 

It was just a simple cycle: condense, separate, align, divide, duplicate all so cytokinesis can occur and the cycle repeats itself. A simple, easy task to understand- so why didn’t the unruly chromosome get it? Without the other, the cell would break and mutations could occur, it would be a potential chromocide! 

And in the corner, not too far from the others was the unruly chromosome with a frown plastered on their face. The nucleus shook around causing more of a panic within the chromosomes, “Why don’t you want to go through mitosis?” Asked the chromosome with a frown. 

“I just don’t see the point, I’m afraid of change!” 

“But why? The Cell Cycle is a fun and amazing experience!! Come on back and I’ll show you.” 

With a huff and an “Alrighty” the chromosomes headed back to the bundle so they could continue their journey into the cycle. 

Joined by the centromere once again the phases began to take place. 

“First we align in the middle right after we have been condensed and separated, see how we line up in a perfect row? It’s magical what the cell can do!!” And without knowing what was occurring the chromosome complied and lined up in the middle. 

“Now see as the centrioles are dividing us apart? We’re going through Anaphase!! Now we will venture to a different side of the cell!!!” And without knowing what was occurring the chromosome complied and flowed to the centriole. 

“Look! I have a twin!!” Exclaimed the unruly chromosome as another version of itself appeared. 

“That’s right! In Anaphase dna duplication occurs!!” Smiled the chromosome. 

Now behold, the final stage of Mitosis- Telophase!! This is where the cell will elongate so we may finally enter a new stage called Cytokinesis..this is where the cell will divide.” 

And just like that, the chromosome followed not knowing what was to occur. “Thank you fellow chromosome for teaching me and showing me how beautiful mitosis can truly be! I’ll never forget you!” Cried out the unruly chromosome as the cell split and Cytokinesis took its turn in splitting the cells. 

The chromosome had saved the day! No mutations would occur and the cells would be safe, and so their cycle would continue again, and again, and again.