Interphase

Interphase is the stage of the cell cycle in which a cell prepares for division. The cell grows and carries out its normal activities while building up the material needed to form two new cells.

During interphase, the cell also copies its DNA. Each chromosome is duplicated, producing two identical copies that will be separated during mitosis. This copying does not happen during mitosis itself: it must be completed beforehand.

Growth supplies material for the new cells, while DNA copying makes a complete set of genetic information available for each one. Interphase therefore prepares the cell for mitosis, when the duplicated chromosomes are separated.

Cytokinesis

After a cell’s nucleus has divided by mitosis, the two new nuclei are still within the same cell. Cytokinesis separates that cell into two.

During cytokinesis, the cytoplasm divides and the cell membrane separates to form two daughter cells. Each daughter cell contains one of the nuclei formed during mitosis.

Cytokinesis is the final stage of cell division: it turns the division of one nucleus into the formation of two separate cells.