Final answer:
The cell cycle is the sequence of events that a cell goes through, which includes growth, DNA replication, and cell division, culminating in two daughter cells. It is regulated by checkpoints to prevent errors, and disruption to this regulation can lead to cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cell cycle is a complex series of events that cells undergo from the moment they are created until they divide to form new daughter cells. During this cycle, a cell will grow, replicate its DNA, and divide. The first phase, known as interphase, is where the cell spends most of its life. This phase is subdivided into three stages: G₁, S, and G₂. In these stages, the cell grows (G₁), replicates its DNA (S), and prepares for cell division (G₂). After interphase, cells enter the mitotic phase, which includes mitosis (karyokinesis) and cytokinesis. Mitosis has several stages: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Finally, in cytokinesis, the cell physically divides into two new cells.
The progression through the cell cycle is regulated by various checkpoints that ensure each phase is completed properly. Dysregulation can lead to uncontrolled cell division, a hallmark of cancer. Indeed, the balance between positive regulators that advance the cycle and negative regulators that provide stop signals is crucial for cellular and organismal health.