Which two phases are in the cell cycle?

• A. Interphase and Mitotic
• B. DNA replication and cell division
• C. G1 and G2
• D. Prophase and Metaphase

Answer: (A)

The cell cycle is organized into two broad phases: Interphase, where the cell grows and duplicates its DNA, and the Mitotic (M) phase, where the cell divides by mitosis and cytokinesis. Interphase contains the sub-stages G1, S, and G2, but these are part of the same phase, not separate phases. The M phase includes the processes of mitosis and cytokinesis. The other options refer to specific processes (DNA replication, cell division) or subphases within the larger phases (G1 and G2, or Prophase and Metaphase), so they don’t list the two overarching phases of the cycle. Hence, Interphase and the Mitotic phase are the correct pairing.