During which of the following phases of the cell cycle does duplication of the genetic...
During which of the following phases of the cell cycle does duplication of the genetic material occur?
- A. S
- B. Metaphase
- C. G2
- D. Anaphase
Correct Answer: A. S
Explanation
The correct answer is the S, or synthesis, phase. The cell cycle consists of six main parts: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. Interphase, the longest part of the cell cycle, is subdivided into three different phases: G1, S, and G2. G1 comes first; in this phase, the cell simply grows. In the S phase, the cell synthesizes (creates) a new set of DNA using its original genome as a template. In G2, the cell (which now contains two copies of DNA) continues to grow. These growth phases are an important part of interphase because the cell must grow enough to have enough cytoplasm to give to each of its daughter cells at the end of mitosis or meiosis.