Final answer:
Human cells spend much longer in Gap 1 (G1) than in mitosis, with G1 lasting about 9 hours and mitosis along with cytokinesis taking about 0.5 to 1.5 hours in a typical 24-hour cell cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the time spent in mitosis with the time spent in Gap 1 (G1) in human cells, we observe significant differences. In rapidly dividing human cells with a 24-hour cell cycle, the G1 phase typically lasts approximately 9 hours. In contrast, the mitotic phase (M phase) which includes both mitosis and cytokinesis, spans about 0.5 to 1.5 hours. This shows that human cells spend a greater amount of time preparing for cell division (G1) than they do actively dividing (mitosis).
Mitosis itself is composed of several stages that collectively take a shorter amount of time compared to interphase. Mitosis and cytokinesis are part of the M phase, which is much shorter than the interphase, particularly the G1 phase. During G1, cells grow and perform their normal functions. The duration of G1 can be a few hours to many days, depending on the type of cell and external factors affecting cell division.