Genetics & Cellular Function
What You’ll Learn
The cell cycle is the ordered series of events a cell undergoes to replicate its genetic material and divide into two identical daughter cells. The cell cycle consists of four main phases: G1 (growth), S (DNA synthesis), G2 (growth and preparation for division), and M (mitosis and cell division). Progression through the cell cycle is tightly regulated by various checkpoint proteins and signaling pathways that ensure proper DNA replication and cell division. Dysregulation of the cell cycle, such as through mutations in key cell cycle control proteins like p53, can lead to uncontrolled cell division and the development of cancer.