The Cell Cycle and Cancer
Study Guide/Answer Key
1. What is the cell cycle?
The regular sequence of growth and division cells undergo.
2. What are the three stages of cell division?
Interphase – Mitosis - Cytokinesis
3. What is mitosis?
The stage of cell division in which the nucleus divides into two
nuclei; in this stage one copy of the DNA is copied (replicated) and
distributed to each new daughter cell.
4. List the four phases of mitosis?
Prophase – Metaphase – Anaphase - Telophase
5. In which stage does the cell spend most of its time?
Interphase
6. What happens in prophase?
The chromatin condenses (thickens) to form chromosomes; spindle
fibers form; the nuclear membrane breaks down;
7. What happens in metaphase?
The chromosomes line up in the center of the cell; each
chromosome attaches to the spindle fiber at the centromere;
8. What happens in anaphase?
The centromere splits and the two chromatids separate to opposite
ends;
9. What happens in telophase?
The chromosomes stretch and lose their rod like appearance; a
nuclear membrane forms around each region of chromosomes;
10. What is cytokinesis?
The cell membrane pinches in around the middle of the cell; each
daughter cell ends up with the same number of identical
chromosomes as the parent cell;
11. What is replication?
Replication is when the cell makes a copy of the DNA in its nucleus
during interphase;
