The stage of cell division (mitosis or meiosis) following metaphase, when duplicated chromosomes are separating toward opposite poles of the cell.
From Greek 'dia-' (through/apart) + 'aster' (star), literally meaning 'two stars,' referring to the star-shaped arrangements of spindle fibers at each pole during chromosome separation.
When you look at a cell under a microscope during diaster, you literally see two star-shaped structures pulling chromosomes apart—that's why early biologists called it the 'two-star' stage!
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