Cell & Developmental Biology
Open Access

Cell Cycle

The cell cycle is the series of events that take place in a cell that cause it to divide into two daughter cells. These events include the duplication of its DNA (DNA replication) and some of its organelles and subsequently the partitioning of its cytoplasm and other components into two daughter cells in a process called cell division. During interphase the cell grows, accumulating nutrients needed for mitosis and replicates its DNA and some of its organelles. During the mitotic phase the replicated chromosomes, organelles and cytoplasm separate into two new daughter cells. To ensure the proper replication of cellular components and division, there are control mechanisms known as cell cycle checkpoints after each of the key steps of the cycle that determine if the cell can progress to the next phase.