Which is a part of interphase?

Question

A. Prophase

B. G1 phase

C. Cytokinesis

D. Telophase

Answer 1

Hi Thomas,

Interphase is the relatively long period of the cell cycle which does not include mitosis. "Inter" means between; it is the time between the process of cell division, which includes mitosis.

One way to remember the parts of mitosis is the acronym PMAT: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.

So answers A and D are incorrect.

Then, we have answer C "cytokinesis" which does not include the root word "phase." This is a hint that this is a different kind of process. Cyto means cell; kinesis is related to movement (e.g. kinetic), so use these as hints that cytokinesis involves the movement of the organelles and cytoplasm within the cell as it prepares to divide in two.

The cell undergoes cytokinesis, at the end of mitosis, after all the chromosomes have migrated to two opposite ends of the cell. That's when the cleavage furrow begins to form. So the cell is finishing its dividing process during cytokinesis, which is not part of interphase.

So C is incorrect.

The hint in "G1 phase" is G which stands for "growth." Originally it stood for "gap" because it is in the gap of time when the cell is not dividing: interphase. Since we've learned more about cytology, G1 is considered to indicate "growth phase 1" which is the first phase of growth after a cell has divided into two new cells.

The answer is B.

I hope you can use these hints, acronyms, and prefixes to remember these terms.

Answer 2

Interphase is defined as the stages of the cell cycle that does not include mitosis. Therefore, since A, C, and D refer to mitosis, the answer is B, G1 phase.