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Q.Though redundantly described as a resting phase, interphase does not really involve rest. Comment.

Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education (Intermediate 1st Year) 2020Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Interphase is metabolically the busiest phase of the cell cycle — DNA replication and cell growth occur here, not "rest."

The cell cycle is divided into interphase and M phase (mitosis). Interphase (between two successive M phases) is often loosely called the "resting phase" because no visible nuclear/cell division is occurring under the microscope. But this term is misleading, because interphase is actually the period when the cell is preparing intensively for the next division, and is divided into three sub-phases, each with vital activity:

  1. G1 phase (Gap 1): The cell shows vigorous biosynthetic activity — it grows in size, synthesises RNA and proteins required for DNA synthesis, and increases the number of organelles. Cell metabolism is very active during this "growth phase."

  2. S phase (Synthesis): DNA replication occurs — the entire genome is duplicated so that the amount of DNA doubles per cell (though chromosome number remains unchanged, since each chromosome now has two sister chromatids). The centriole also duplicates in animal cells.

  3. G2 phase (Gap 2): The cell continues to grow, synthesising proteins (including tubulins for the mitotic spindle) required for cell division, and the cell prepares to enter mitosis.

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