The Cell Cycle

The Cell Cycle is so important because it contains the 3 stages of the cell’s life, and they are the Mitosis, Cytokinesis, and the Interphase.

1) Interphase

The first of these stages is the Interphase, which is the longest stage in the cycle. It is the time when cells perform the various functions within the organism. During Interphase, the cell doubles almost everything in it’s cytoplasm. In the first phase, a cell increases in size and creates the proteins/molecules needed by the cell so it can function. The second stage of Interphase is replication, in which DNA copies, or replicates its self. During this stage, the cell copies 3 billion base pairs of DNA information that is inside the nucleus. Enzymes control this process. After the DNA is replicated, the cell still continues to grow and make materials like proteins.

2) Mitosis

Mitosis is the second stage of the Cell Cycle, and is also the shortest most of the time. Mitosis is when the contents of the Nucleus splits up. This splitting results in two “daughter” nuclei, each with the same number/kinds of Chromosomes as the normal nucleus. Sometimes mistakes are made during this process but the daughter cells are normally identical to the parent. When the nucleus prepares to divide, the DNA inside of it forms sister Chromatids of a Chromosome. Something called a Centromere then joins 4 sister Chromatids.

3) Cytokinesis

This is the final stage of the Cell Cycle. Cytokinesis separates the two nuclei into two daughter cells. Both of these sells are completely alike to the parent cell. In an Animal Cell, the cell membrane pinches together to split up the cytoplasm and it’s organelles. In a plant cell, a cell plate forms along the middle to separate the cell into two daughter cells.