A typical process of cell division in a human cell approximately lasts for

Options

A. only about an hour
B. about 12 hours
C. only about 24 hours
D. about 6 hours

Answer

To determine the approximate duration of a typical process of cell division in a human cell, we can break down the information as follows:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Cell Cycle**:
- The cell cycle consists of two main phases: interphase and M phase (mitotic phase).
- Interphase is a long non-dividing phase, while the M phase is the short phase where actual cell division occurs.

2. **Duration of the Cell Cycle**:
- The average duration of the entire cell cycle in a dividing human cell is approximately 24 hours.

3. **Duration of M Phase**:
- Within this 24-hour cycle, the M phase (the phase where cell division happens) lasts for only about 1 hour.
- This means that the M phase constitutes less than 5% of the total cell cycle duration.

4. **Interphase Duration**:
- The remaining time, which is about 23 hours, is spent in interphase (G1, S, G2, and G0 phases), which accounts for 75% to 95% of the total time.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the typical process of cell division in a human cell lasts for approximately **only about an hour**.

### Final Answer:
The typical process of cell division in a human cell approximately lasts for **only about an hour**.