Biology genetics | Page 3

The cell cycle is a process that takes about 18 hours in which every eukaryotic cell undergoes. In this cycle, there are three basic stages broken down into other shorter stages. The three basic stages are interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.

Cell cycle

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Overview

Interphase is a stage where the cell is basically duplicating its DNA and getting ready for mitosis

again. This stage can be broken down into three smaller stages: G1, S, and G2. G1 takes about 6

hours and the cell gets ready for mitosis. Cellular contents excluding the DNA are duplicated. G1 is also known as a gap 1 phase. S phase is where all 46 chromosomes are duplicated. Each chromosome has two sister chromatids when S

phase is finished. In G2 phase, the cell gets ready for Mitosis. It is also known as gap 2 phase. In this stage, the cell double checks to see if it has all the duplicated chromosomes. It also fixes the duplicated chromosomes that have any errors in them.

Interphase

Mitosis is the part of the cell cycle where the cell’s genetic information is divided apart and is split into two nuclei. This stage can be split into four parts: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Prophase is when the genetic information condenses so that it becomes visible in the middle of the cell and the spindle fibers appear. Metaphase is where the chromosomes align in the middle of the cell and the spindle fibers attach to the chromosomes. Anaphase is where the sister chromatids are split directly in half and they move to the opposite sides of the cell, exactly the same amount on either side. Telophase, the last phase in mitosis is where the genetic information is fully divided and the cell starts to form two nuclei. The spindle fibers also disappear during this stage.

Mitosis

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Soybean crop (below)