Interphase is metabolically active, with growth, DNA replication, organelle increase, transcription and protein synthesis before division begins in cells continually.
Coverage 2013–2022 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Interphase is a metabolically active period in which a cell grows and biosynthesizes the components needed for division.
Proteins and other cell materials are synthesized, DNA is replicated in S phase, and cytoplasm increases so the future daughter cells inherit sufficient cellular contents.
Mitochondria—and chloroplasts in photosynthetic cells—increase in number by growth and division of pre-existing organelles. Their increase is therefore part of cell growth, not manufacture from nothing.
Before a plant cell divides, it can synthesize proteins, replicate nuclear DNA and increase its chloroplast and mitochondrial populations during interphase.
Interphase is not a resting period and does not include nuclear division; active biosynthesis and preparation make division possible.
This objective is assessed through structured response, commonly using Deduce / State / Outline.
Deduce / State / Outline
Build the answer around this relationship: Interphase includes active growth and metabolism.
Listing G1, S and G2 without linking them to actual processes.
Representative question
Outline the processes occurring during interphase in the cell cycle.
Cell proliferation increases cell number by repeated mitosis, as in plant meristems, early embryos, skin replacement, and wound healing. The cell cycle includes interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis; interphase has G1 growth, S-phase DNA replication, and G2 preparation. Interphase is metabolically active, not resting; cells synthesize proteins, replicate DNA, grow cytoplasm, and increase organelles. Cyclin concentrations rise and fall to activate cyclin-dependent kinases; CDK-cyclin complexes such as MPF control checkpoints and mitosis entry. Proto-oncogene activation and tumour suppressor loss disrupt checkpoints; accumulated mutations can cause uncontrolled proliferation and cancer. Benign tumours grow locally, malignant tumours invade neighbouring tissues, and metastasis spreads cancer cells to form secondary tumours.
