Which is the longest phase of cell cycle

Options

A. Interphase
B. Mitotic phase
C. Meiotic phase
D. Both (B) and (C )

Answer

To determine which phase of the cell cycle is the longest, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Cell Cycle**: The cell cycle consists of several phases: Interphase and the Mitotic (M) phase. Interphase is further divided into three sub-phases: G1 (Gap 1), S (Synthesis), and G2 (Gap 2).

2. **Identify the Phases**:
- **Interphase**: This is the phase where the cell spends most of its time. It includes:
- **G1 Phase**: The cell grows and synthesizes proteins.
- **S Phase**: DNA replication occurs, where the genetic material is duplicated.
- **G2 Phase**: The cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis.
- **Mitotic Phase (M Phase)**: This includes both mitosis and cytokinesis, where the cell divides into two daughter cells.

3. **Compare the Duration of Phases**:
- Interphase takes up a significant portion of the cell cycle, often accounting for about 90% of the total time.
- The M phase, which includes mitosis and cytokinesis, is much shorter in duration compared to interphase.

4. **Conclusion**: Since interphase encompasses the majority of the cell cycle duration, it is the longest phase.

5. **Final Answer**: The longest phase of the cell cycle is **Option A: Interphase**.