The cell cycle comprises a whole series of events or stages that take place in the cell during its growth and division. A cell spends most of its time at the stage called the interface, and during this time it grows, doubles its chromosomes and prepares for cell division.
Explanation:
The cell cycle is an ordered set of events in the life of the cell that culminates with the growth of the cell and the division into two daughter cells. The stages are G1-S-G2-M and, often erroneously included in Mitosis: Cytokinesis or cytoplasmic division.
The state S represents "Synthesis". This is the state when DNA replication occurs. The states G1 (gap or interval 1) and G2 (gap or interval 2) are stages dedicated to generating more organelles to divide between daughter cells (product of cell division) and to detect enzymes and proteins to help during mitosis. The S, G1 and G2 states are stages of the Interface, a period between two successive cell divisions. Cells normally spend most of their lives at the interface.
The M state represents "mitosis", and that is when nuclear division occurs (chromosomes separate) and cytoplasmic (cytokinesis). Mitosis is also divided into 4 phases: Profase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase but, together, they represent only a small part of the cell cycle, compared to the Interphase. At the end of Mitosis the division of the cytoplasm or cytokinesis occurs.