Every living being has a story. We are born, we grow, we prepare for different stages of life, and eventually, we give rise to the next generation. In a similar way, even the tiniest unit of life i.e., the Cell, has its own story to tell.

A cell’s journey is not random, but rather it follows a carefully planned path known as the cell cycle. Just like a person’s life has chapters such as childhood, adulthood, and parenthood, the cell’s life is divided into distinct stages. It grows, gathers energy and resources, checks if everything is in place, and then finally takes the big step: dividing to give rise to new cells. This cycle is more than just repetition; it is the secret behind how organisms grow taller, how wounds heal, and how life continues generation after generation. Without the cell cycle, there would be no growth, no repair, and no continuity of life.

Biologists describe the cell cycle as having two main phases: interphase, where the cell spends most of its life growing and preparing, and the mitotic (M) phase, where the dramatic process of cell division takes place.

Interphase

Interphase is the period when the cell prepares for division and is divided into three stages:

Mitotic (M) Phase

The M phase is the period when the cell divides, and it includes mitosis and cytokinesis:

1. Mitosis:

   • Prophase: Chromosomes condense and become visible. The nuclear envelope begins to disintegrate. The mitotic spindle starts to form.

   • Metaphase: Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate (the cell's equator). Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes.

   • Anaphase: Sister chromatids are pulled apart and move toward opposite poles of the cell.

   • Telophase: Chromatids reach the poles, and the nuclear envelope re-forms around each set of chromosomes. The chromosomes begin to decondense.

2. Cytokinesis:

   • The cytoplasm divides, resulting in two daughter cells, each with a complete set of chromosomes and organelles.