Which statement best describes Interphase?

• A. It is the phase of active cell division.
• B. Growth of a cell occurs mainly during this phase.
• C. It happens only in cancer cells.
• D. It is the phase where cells die.

Answer: (B)

Interphase is the part of the cell cycle when the cell is preparing to divide rather than actively dividing. During this time the cell grows, carries out normal metabolic activities, duplicates its organelles, and copies its DNA in the S phase in preparation for mitosis. Because the majority of growth and preparation occurs in this window—G1 and G2 for growth and organelle duplication, with DNA replication in S phase—the statement that growth of a cell occurs mainly during this phase fits best. The phase of active division is actually mitosis, which comes after interphase. It's not limited to cancer cells, and cell death is not the defining feature of interphase.