Fig. 1: The cell cycle
The cell cycle (Fig. 1) leads to cell division and duplication. In eukaryotes the process can be divided into 3 periods – the interphase, the M (mitotic) phase, and cytokinesis. While cells grow and accumulate nutrients during the interphase (a prerequisite for subsequent cell division), the cell splits itself during the M phase which results in 2 daughter cells which enter the final stage – cytokinesis (represented by 2 yellow cells in Fig. 1 at the end of the M phase).
Cell cycle checkpoints control the process to ensure correct division of the cell.