Cell cycle

The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the series of events that take place in a cell leading to its
division and duplication (replication). In cells without a nucleus (prokaryotic), the cell cycle occurs via a
process termed binary fission. In cells with a nucleus (eukaryotes), the cell cycle can be divided in two
periods: interphaseduring which the cell grows, accumulating nutrients needed for mitosis
and duplicating its DNAand the mitotic (M) phase, during which the cell splits itself into two distinct
cells, often called "daughter cells" and the final phase, cytokinesis, where the new cell is completely
divided. The cell-division cycle is a vital process by which a single-celled fertilized egg develops into a
mature organism, as well as the process by which hair, skin, blood cells, and some internal organs are
Renewed.


Each turn of the cell cycle divides the chromosomes in a cell nucleus.

Phases
The cell cycle consists of four distinct phases: G
1
phase, S phase (synthesis), G
2
phase (collectively
known as interphase) and M phase (mitosis). M phase is itself composed of two tightly coupled
processes: mitosis, in which the cell's chromosomes are divided between the two sister cells,
and cytokinesis, in which the cell's cytoplasm divides in half forming distinct cells. Activation of each
phase is dependent on the proper progression and completion of the previous one. Cells that have
temporarily or reversibly stopped dividing are said to have entered a state of quiescence called G
0
phase.


Schematic of the cell cycle. outer ring: I = Interphase, M =Mitosis; inner ring: M = Mitosis, G1 = Gap 1, G2 = Gap 2, S
=Synthesis; not in ring: G0 = Gap 0/Resting.
[1]

State Description Abbreviation
quiescent/
senescent
Gap 0 G
0

A resting phase where the cell has left the cycle and has stopped
dividing.
Interphase
Gap 1 G
1

Cells increase in size in Gap 1. The G
1
checkpoint control
mechanism ensures that everything is ready for DNA synthesis.
Synthesis S DNA replication occurs during this phase.
Gap 2 G
2

During the gap between DNA synthesis and mitosis, the cell will
continue to grow. TheG
2
checkpoint control mechanism ensures
that everything is ready to enter the M (mitosis) phase and
divide.
Cell
Mitosis M
Cell growth stops at this stage and cellular energy is focused on
division the orderly division into two daughter cells. A checkpoint in the
middle of mitosis (Metaphase Checkpoint) ensures that the cell is
ready to complete cell division.
After cell division, each of the daughter cells begin the interphase of a new cycle. Although the various
stages of interphase are not usually morphologically distinguishable, each phase of the cell cycle has a
distinct set of specialized biochemical processes that prepare the cell for initiation of cell division.
G
0
phase
The term "post-mitotic" is sometimes used to refer to both quiescent and senescent cells. Nonproliferative
cells in multicellular eukaryotes generally enter the quiescent G
0
state from G
1
and may remain quiescent
for long periods of time, possibly indefinitely (as is often the case for neurons). This is very common for
cells that are fully differentiated. Cellular senescence occurs in response to DNA damage or degradation
that would make a cell's progeny nonviable; it is often a biochemical reaction; division of such a cell could,
for example, become cancerous. Some cells enter the G
0
phase semi-permanentally e.g., some liver and
kidney cells.
Interphase
Before a cell can enter cell division, it needs to take in nutrients. All of the preparations are done during
the interphase.Interphase is a series of changes that takes place in a newly formed cell & its
nucleus,before it becomes capable of division again.It is also called intermitosis.Previously it was called
resting stage because there is no apparent activity related to cell division. Interphase proceeds in three
stages, G
1
, S, and G
2
. Cell division operates in a cycle. Therefore, interphase is preceded by the previous
cycle of mitosis and cytokinesis. Interphase is also known as preparatory phase. In this stage nucleus
and cytosol division does not occur. The cell prepares for division. The inactive x chromose can be seen
attached to nuclear membrane in this phase It is the stage between end of mitosis and start of next
phase.In this phase many events occur and the most significant event is the replication of genetic
material(DNA)
G
1
phase
The first phase within interphase, from the end of the previous M phase until the beginning of
DNA synthesis is called G
1
(G indicating gap). It is also called the growth phase. During this phase
the biosynthetic activities of the cell, which had been considerably slowed down during M phase,
resume at a high rate. This phase is marked by the use of 20 amino acids to form millions of
proteins and later on enzymes that are required in S phase, mainly those needed for DNA
replication. Duration of G
1
is highly variable, even among different cells of the same species. It is
under the control of the p53 gene.
S phase
The ensuing S phase starts when DNA replication commences; when it is complete, all of
the chromosomes have been replicated, i.e., each chromosome has two (sister) chromatids. Thus, during
this phase, the amount of DNA in the cell has effectively doubled, though the ploidy of the cell remains
the same. During this phase, synthesis is completed as quickly as possible due to the exposed base pairs
being sensitive to external factors such as any drugs taken or any mutagens (such as nicotine).
G
2
phase
During the gap between DNA synthesis and mitosis, the cell will continue to grow. The G2 checkpoint
control mechanism ensures that everything is ready to enter the M (mitosis) phase and divides
Mitosis (M phase, mitotic phase)
The relatively brief M phase consists of nuclear division (karyokinesis). The M phase has been broken
down into several distinct phases, sequentially known as:
prophase,
metaphase,
anaphase,
telophase
cytokinesis (strictly speaking, cytokinesis is not part of mitosis but is an event that directly follows
mitosis in which cytoplasm is divided into two daughter cells)
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two
identical sets in two nuclei.
[2]
It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the
nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly equal shares of these
cellular components. Mitosis and cytokinesis together define the mitotic (M) phase of the cell cycle -
the division of the mother cell into two daughter cells, genetically identical to each other and to their
parent cell. This accounts for approximately 10% of the cell cycle.
Mitosis occurs exclusively in eukaryotic cells, but occurs in different ways in different species. For
example, animals undergo an "open" mitosis, where the nuclear envelope breaks down before the
chromosomes separate, while fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)
undergo a "closed" mitosis, where chromosomes divide within an intact cell nucleus.
[3]
Prokaryotic cells,
which lack a nucleus, divide by a process called binary fission.
The process of mitosis is complex and highly regulated. The sequence of events is divided into phases,
corresponding to the completion of one set of activities and the start of the next. These stages are
prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. During the process of mitosis the pairs
of chromosomes condense and attach to fibers that pull the sister chromatidsto opposite sides of the cell.
The cell then divides in cytokinesis, to produce two identical daughter cells.
[4]

Because cytokinesis usually occurs in conjunction with mitosis, "mitosis" is often used interchangeably
with "M phase". However, there are many cells where mitosis and cytokinesis occur separately, forming
single cells with multiple nuclei in a process called endoreplication. This occurs most notably among
the fungi and slime moulds, but is found in various groups. Even in animals, cytokinesis and mitosis may
occur independently, for instance during certain stages of fruit fly embryonic development.
[5]
Errors in
mitosis can either kill a cell through apoptosis or cause mutations that may lead to cancer.