Anaphase is a stage in mitosis and meiosis where the sister chromatids separate from each other and are pulled towards opposite ends of the cell

. The protein "glue" that holds the sister chromatids together is broken down, allowing them to separate, and each is now its own chromosome

. During the first part of anaphase, called anaphase A, the kinetochore microtubules shorten and draw the chromosomes toward the spindle poles. Then, in the second part of anaphase, called anaphase B, the astral microtubules that are anchored to the cell membrane pull the poles further apart and the interpolar microtubules slide past each other, exerting additional pull on the chromosomes

. This ensures that each of the daughter cells will receive a complete set of chromosomes