What is cell growth and how does it occur during the cell cycle? (1 point)
A) during mitosis
B) during quiescence
C) throughout all stages of the cell cycle
D) during interphase
The correct answer is D) during interphase.
Cell growth refers to the increase in cell size and mass that occurs during the cell cycle. It is an essential process for organisms to develop, repair tissues, and maintain normal physiological functions.
During the cell cycle, which consists of interphase and mitosis or meiosis, most of the cell growth occurs during the interphase. Interphase is the period when the cell is not actively dividing but preparing for division. It is further divided into three phases: G1 (gap 1), S (synthesis), and G2 (gap 2).
During G1 phase, the cell increases in size, synthesizes new proteins and organelles, and performs its normal functions. The duration of G1 phase varies among different cell types and can range from a few hours to several months.
The next phase, S phase, is characterized by DNA replication. The cell duplicates its genetic material (chromosomes) to ensure that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes during cell division. As the DNA is replicated, the cell size also continues to increase.
After S phase, the cell enters G2 phase, a short period of growth and preparation for cell division. During this phase, the cell continues to grow in size and duplicates its organelles, such as mitochondria and centrioles, which are essential for cell division.
So, cell growth occurs throughout all stages of the cell cycle, mainly during interphase (G1, S, and G2 phases). During mitosis (or meiosis), the cell divides into two daughter cells, but there is no significant increase in cell size during this phase. Quiescence refers to a non-dividing state, where cell growth is minimal.