Unit 4 · Cell communication and the cell cycle
Mitosis & the cell cycle
Step through interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis one stage at a time, and see why the checkpoints in between matter.
Interphase — G1
The cell grows, carries out its normal jobs, and produces the proteins and organelles it will need before committing to divide.
💡 Checkpoint: G1 checkpoint — checks cell size, nutrients, and DNA integrity before allowing entry into S phase.
What if a checkpoint fails?
Checkpoints exist to stop a damaged or incomplete cell from dividing. Toggle this to see what happens when one doesn't catch a mistake.