What is the primary function of the spindle apparatus during cell division?

The primary function of the spindle apparatus during cell division is to assist in the separation of chromosomes. The spindle apparatus is a structure made up of microtubules that emerges during the phases of cell division, particularly during mitosis and meiosis. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that sister chromatids, which are the replicated forms of chromosomes, are pulled apart and distributed evenly into the two daughter cells.

During metaphase, the spindle apparatus aligns the chromosomes at the cell's equatorial plane, facilitating their segregation. Once aligned, the spindle fibers attach to the kinetochores, which are protein complexes at the centromere region of each chromosome. The spindle apparatus then exerts forces to pull the sister chromatids apart, guiding them toward opposite poles of the cell during anaphase. This process is vital for maintaining genetic stability, as it ensures that each daughter cell receives the correct number of chromosomes once division is complete.

In contrast, while the other options involve cellular processes, they do not pertain specifically to the function of the spindle apparatus in separating chromosomes during cell division. Decondensing chromatin happens during interphase and early mitosis, DNA replication occurs before cell division starts, and forming the cleavage furrow is associated with cytok