Differential interference contrast (DIC) light micrograph of onion (Allium cepa) meristematic cells undergoing mitosis (nuclear division). Mitosis is the formation of two daughter nuclei from one parent nucleus. During mitosis, chromosomes, which are made up of two identical chromatids, are separated and pulled to opposite ends of the cell. The cell then divides into two in a process known as cytokinesis (cellular division) so that each cell retains a copy of the parent cell's genetic information. Orcein staining.