Definition of "metaphase" [metaphase]

• The stage of mitosis and meiosis, following prophase and preceding anaphase, during which the chromosomes are aligned along the metaphase plate. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "- Perhaps the most recognizable phase of mitosis is termed metaphase, a stage where the chromosomes, attached to the kinetochore microtubules, begin to align in a single plane (known as the metaphase plate) midway between the spindle poles (see Figure 1 (c))."
• "Standard cytogenetic analysis including preparation of karyotypes, metaphase and interphase based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), high resolution single nucleotide polymorphism oligonucleotide based array (SNP array) analysis and mutation analysis of the INI1/SMARCB1 gene are available."
• "Okay - it's out there, but the third cake the second set of bat cupcakes looks like chromosomes in metaphase to me."