In anaphase, what is pulled towards the centrioles?

During anaphase, the correct response is that chromatids are pulled towards the centrioles. This stage of mitosis is characterized by the separation of sister chromatids, which are identical copies of a chromosome that were previously joined at the centromere. As the spindle fibers shorten, they exert a pulling force on the chromatids, effectively dragging them apart towards opposite poles of the cell, which are associated with the centrioles.

This movement is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. The centrioles act as anchor points for the spindle fibers, facilitating this separation. Understanding this process is important as it directly relates to the accurate distribution of genetic material during cell division, a key concept in oncology where cell division is often studied in the context of cancer cell proliferation.