CELL CYCLE

It is the entire sequence of events that take place from the end of one cell
division to the beginning of next cell division.
PHASES OF CELL CYCLE
Howard and Pelc in 1953 have divided the cell cycle into four phases or
stages. They are G1, S, G2 and M Phase. The G1, S and G2 phases are commonly
called as interphase.
1. G1 Phase.
It is the first phase of cell cycle which take place in a newly formed daughter
cell. It is a resting phase it is also called as first gap phase or first growth
phase. During this phase the synthesis of RNA, proteins and membranes take
place that lead to the growth of nucleus and cytoplasm of each daughter cell
towards their mature size. Three types of RNA namely rRNA, tRNA and mRNA
are transcribed. The proteins synthesized during G 1 phase are (1) regulatory
proteins which control various events of mitosis; (2) enzymes necessary for
DNA synthesis and (3) tubulin and other mitotic apparatus proteins. Time
taken by G1 phase is variable, it either occupies 30 to 50 percent of the total
time of the cell cycle or it lacks completely in rapid dividing cell (early
embryo).
2. S Phase.
It is also called as synthesis phase of the interphase. During this phase of cell
cycle the replication of DNA and synthesis of histone proteins take place.
Massive amounts of histones are synthesized. At the end of S phase, the DNA
molecule is replicated and each chromosome has two DNA molecule and a
duplicate set of genes. The S phase occupies roughly the 35 to 45 percent of
the cell cycle.
3. G2 Phase.
It is also called as second gap phase or growth phase of interphase. During
this phase the synthesis of RNA and proteins continues which is required for
cell growth. It occupies about 10 to 20 percent time of cell cycle.

Mitosis.
The word mitosis has been derived from a Greek word mitos which
means thread. Mitosis occurs in the somatic or body cell of an organism.
 Mitosis can be defined as “the process of cell division in which a parent cell
divides into two daughter cell having the same number of chromosomes as
the parent cell”.
General Description of Mitosis.
For the sake of convenience mitosis has been divided into the following
phases.
A. Prophase.