Describe the events taking place during the interphase.
The interphase though called the resting phase is the time during which the cell is preparing for division by undergoing both cell growth and DNA replication in an orderly manner. The interphase is divided into three further phases : G1 phase (Gap) S phase (Synthesis) G2 phase (Gap2) G1 phase corresponds to the interval between mitosis and initiation of DNA replication. During G1 phase the cell is metabolically active and continuously grows but does not replicate its DNA. S or synthesis phase marks the period during which DNA synthesis or replication takes place. During this time the amount of DNA per cell doubles. If the initial amount of DNA is denoted as 2C then it increases to 4C. However, there is no increase in the chromosome number; if the cell had diploid or 2n number of chromosomes at G1 even after the S phase the number of chromosomes remains the same i.e. 2n. In animal cells, during the S phase, as DNA replication begins in the nucleus, the centrioles, initiate replication in the cytoplasm. Dumping the G2 phase proteins are synthesized in preparation for mitosis while cell growth continues.
