Which of the following phases are included in the cell cycle?

The cell cycle is composed of a series of stages that a cell goes through as it grows and divides. The correct answer, which includes Interphase and M phase, accurately represents the main phases of the cell cycle.

Interphase is the longest part of the cell cycle and includes the stages where the cell grows, duplicates its DNA, and prepares for division. It is further divided into three subphases: G1 (first gap), S (synthesis), and G2 (second gap), during which the cell undergoes vital processes that prepare it for mitosis.

The M phase, or mitotic phase, includes the process of mitosis (the separation of replicated chromosomes) and cytokinesis (the division of the cytoplasm), leading to the formation of two daughter cells. This phase ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical set of genetic material.

Originally, options that mention only specific phases, such as prophase and telophase, focus on only parts of the M phase, while other options may exclude significant parts of the cell cycle. Therefore, including both Interphase and the M phase encompasses the entire cell cycle accurately.