biology / Cells & Energy / free

Cell Cycle & Mitosis

Follow a cell through growth, DNA duplication, checkpoints, and division.

Follow the mechanism1 / 3

The cell grows and copies DNA. Growth and S phase create the material and duplicated chromosomes needed for two daughter cells.

cell cycle / mitosisG2 checkpoint · ready to divide

Focus the idea

phaseG2 checkpoint

checkpointpass

chromosome stateduplicated chromosome

integrity risk15%

Cycle phase 3Checkpoint confidence 78%DNA duplication 100%Spindle attachment 82%

The G2/M checkpoint is pass. The cell holds progression until DNA is sufficiently copied, damage is controlled, and the relevant division machinery is ready.

This is a normalized cell-cycle model, not a clinical cell assay. M is split into prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, with spindle attachment standing in for the clock that moves the cell through them (prometaphase is folded into metaphase). Real cells use cyclin–CDK oscillations, DNA-damage repair, centrosomes, kinetochore attachment, apoptosis, and tissue-specific checkpoints.

Guided journey

Walk through the process.

Step 1 of 4: 01 / Grow

The cell builds material and checks that conditions support another cycle.

What changes next: Growth prepares the cell before it copies its genome.

04 / PRACTICE

Make the biology yours.

0 / 3 checked

Answer from the model, then use the explanation to connect the visual mechanism to the biological rule.

CHECK 1 / 3

Cell Cycle & Mitosis

Walk through the process.

The cell builds material and checks that conditions support another cycle.

Make the biology yours.

What must happen before sister chromatids can separate?