Final answer:
Tight regulatory mechanisms ensure the production of progeny cells with correct DNA and size, verify readiness for cell cycle progression through checkpoints, and regulate with proteins to prevent cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The regulatory mechanisms that control progression through the cell cycle in mammals are crucial to ensuring that progeny cells are proper duplicates of the parent cell, with the correct amount of DNA and appropriate size. These mechanisms include internal control systems with checkpoints at critical phases of the cell cycle near the end of G1, the G2/M transition, and during metaphase.
The checkpoints verify that the cell is ready to proceed, preventing errors in chromosome duplication or distribution that could lead to mutations. Additionally, regulatory proteins both promote and halt cell cycle progression, maintaining the integrity and health of the organism. Failure of these systems could result in uncontrolled cell proliferation, commonly known as cancer.