AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A cell cycle is a series of events that takes place in a cell as it grows and divides. A cell spends most of its time in what is called interphase, and during this time it grows, replicates its chromosomes, and prepares for cell division.

Detailed explanation-2: -Interphase is the longest part of the cell cycle. This is when the cell grows and copies its DNA before moving into mitosis. During mitosis, chromosomes will align, separate, and move into new daughter cells. The prefix inter-means between, so interphase takes place between one mitotic (M) phase and the next.

Detailed explanation-3: -The cell cycle has two major phases: interphase and the mitotic phase (Figure 6.3). During interphase, the cell grows and DNA is replicated. During the mitotic phase, the replicated DNA and cytoplasmic contents are separated and the cell divides.

Detailed explanation-4: -During interphase, the chromosomes are decondensed and distributed throughout the nucleus, so the nucleus appears morphologically uniform. At the molecular level, however, interphase is the time during which both cell growth and DNA replication occur in an orderly manner in preparation for cell division.

Detailed explanation-5: -Two gap phases precede the S and M phases; in G1 the cell prepares for DNA synthesis, and in G2 the cell prepares for the mitotic division that takes place in the M phase.