The cell cycle

The cell cycle is comprised of the following stages: G0 (not actively dividing); G1 (first gap, cell growth); S (DNA synthesis); G2 (second gap, further growth, reorganization of cellular contents); M (mitosis, which lasts for 1 to 3 hours and is followed by cytokinesis and formation of daughter cells). The stages of mitosis are prophase (P; chromosome condensation); metaphase (M; chromosome alignment); anaphase (A; chromosome segregation); and telophase (T; formation of daughter nuclei).