Cell Cycle - GCSE Biology Definition

The cell cycle is the series of stages that a cell goes through to grow and divide into two new cells. It starts with a phase called interphase, where the cell grows and copies its DNA, making sure it has all the instructions needed for new cells. This is followed by mitosis, where the cell's nucleus divides, and then cytokinesis, where the rest of the cell splits into two. The cell cycle allows organisms to grow, repair damaged tissues, and replace old or dead cells. Understanding the cell cycle is important in GCSE Biology because it helps explain how living things develop and maintain themselves.