Prophase is the first phase of mitosis, which a type of cell division that takes place in the somatic cells, that separates the duplicated genetic material carried in the nucleus of a parent cell into two identical daughter cells.
During this stage the genetic material is called chromatin, which is the complex of DNA and proteins contained in the nucleus.
During prophase the chromatin is condensed and the chromosomes become more visible. DNA molecules are progressively shortened and condensed by coiling.
