KEY CONCEPT Cells have distinct phases of growth, reproduction, and normal functions.
The cell cycle is a regular pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division that occurs in eukaryotic cells. The cell cycle is the process of duplicating somatic or body cells
STAGE 1- Gap 1 (G1) Cells carry out their normal functions Cells increase in size Organelles increase in number * Cells spend most of their time here
STAGE 2- Synthesis (S) Cell makes a copy of its nuclear DNA By the end of S stage the cell contains 2 complete sets of DNA
STAGE 3- Gap (G2) Cells continue to carry out their normal functions Additional growth occurs
STAGE 4 (includes 2 processes) Mitosis The division of a body cell’s nucleus and its contents 2 new nuclei form Cytokinesis The process that divides the cell cytoplasm *
The result of the cell cycle is 2 daughter cells that are identical to the original cell
Cells divide at different rates. The rate of cell division varies with the need for those types of cells. Some cells are unlikely to divide (G0).
Cell size is limited. Volume increases faster than surface area.