During the cell cycle, when does mitosis occur?
The Wikipedia article "Cell cycle" has an excellent diagram in the Phases section.
Mitosis is a phase of the cell cycle during which the nucleus of a cell divides into two daughter nuclei, each containing an identical set of chromosomes. Mitosis usually occurs after the cell has finished replicating its DNA during the S phase of the cell cycle.
To understand when mitosis occurs during the cell cycle, it is essential to know the different phases of the cell cycle. The cell cycle consists of four main phases: G1 (Gap 1), S (Synthesis), G2 (Gap 2), and M (Mitosis).
G1 Phase: This is the first phase of the cell cycle, where the cell grows in size and prepares itself to replicate its DNA.
S Phase: This phase is when DNA replication occurs. The cell creates a copy of its genetic material to prepare for cell division.
G2 Phase: After the DNA has been replicated, the cell enters the G2 phase. In this phase, the cell continues to grow and prepares for cell division by synthesizing important molecules required for mitosis.
M Phase: The M phase is the shortest phase of the cell cycle and includes mitosis and cytokinesis. During mitosis, the nucleus divides, and the chromosomes are evenly distributed to the two daughter cells. Cytokinesis follows mitosis, where the cytoplasm of the cell is divided, resulting in two separate daughter cells.
To summarize, mitosis occurs in the M phase of the cell cycle, following the synthesis of DNA during the S phase and the preparatory steps during the G2 phase.