Final answer:
Eukaryotic cell division generally takes about 16-24 hours, encompassing interphase and the mitotic phase, including mitosis and cytokinesis. Specific cell types and conditions may alter this duration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duration of cell division in eukaryotic cells generally spans a cycle of about 16-24 hours, depending on the cell type. This period encompasses several distinct phases that ensure the accurate duplication and distribution of genetic material to the daughter cells. Initially, the cell spends the majority of its cycle in what is known as interphase, which includes three distinct stages: G1, S, and G2. During these stages, the cell grows, performs regular functions, and prepares its DNA for division. Interphase is followed by the mitotic phase (M), which typically lasts between 1 and 2 hours and is composed of mitosis and cytokinesis. Mitosis itself is subdivided into four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. This is followed by cytokinesis, where the cytoplasm divides, marking the completion of cell division. In special cases such as fertilized eggs of fruit flies, the cycle can be significantly quicker, taking about eight minutes as many nuclei are formed before division. However, in typical eukaryotic cells, such as those of invertebrates and vertebrates, the timing is meticulously controlled by both internal and external cell mechanisms.