Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Meiosis Overview

Cells spend most of their life in interphase, performing essential functions.

In G1, they grow, produce proteins, and specialize according to their role.

Liver cells detoxify, kidney cells filter blood, and skin cells produce structural proteins.

If a cell is not ready to divide, it can enter G0, a nondividing state, but continues normal

functions. During S phase, DNA is replicated, forming sister chromatids connected at centromeres.

Enzymes like helicase unwind the DNA, and DNA polymerase builds new strands. In G2,

cells grow further, produce proteins for division, and undergo the G2 checkpoint,

which ensures DNA was correctly replicated. Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases form the Maturation-Promoting