Final answer:
The cell cycle includes phases of growth, DNA replication, and division, leading to the creation of two identical daughter cells, with interphase preparing the cell for division by replicating its DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cell cycle is an essential process by which a single cell divides into two new daughter cells. This cycle can be broadly divided into two phases: the interphase and the mitotic phase. Interphase itself is split into three stages, known as G1 (first gap), S (synthesis, where genomic DNA is replicated), and G2 (second gap). Following interphase, during the mitotic phase, the nucleus divides through a process called mitosis and subsequently the cytoplasm divides by cytokinesis, resulting in two identical cells. It is crucial that the cell cycle is precisely controlled; any disturbance to the regulation of this cycle could lead to diseases such as cancer, where cells divide uncontrollably.