There are many contrasting features in this phase. In mitosis, the chromatin fibers become tightly coiled and folded while in meiosis, the chromatin coils into long thin chromosomes. In mitosis, each sister chromatid has a protein structure called a kinetochore. In meiosis, in a process called synapsis, homologous chromosomes, composed of 2 sister chromatids pair up, forming a tetrad. Each tetrad has four chromatids. Meiosis has a second prophase stage, Prophase II in which spindle forms and moves the chromosomes toward the center of the cell.

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