What are the stages of the cell cycle?

For cells in the body that replicate, they undergo mitosis to produce two identical daughter cells from one parent cell. These cells are undergoing a cycle, called the cell cycle, with several stages leading up to the formation of the daughter cells. The longest stage, and the one that most cells are in, is called interphase. Interphase is the stage between mitotic devisions, so after the cell has been created and before it divides again. This is the time when the cell prepares for the next division by replicating its DNA, producing proteins and increasing its mass. Once the cell is ready, it enters the next phase- the mitotic phase.There are 5 main stages to the mitotic phase: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis. During prophase, the DNA in the nucleus condenses and it now visible under a microscope as chromosomes. These chromosomes are X-shaped because they consist of two identical chromatids held together by a centromere. Meanwhile, organelles known as centrioles migrate to opposite poles of the cell and the nuclear envelope breaks down. Next comes metaphase. The centrioles produce spindle fibres, which are microtubules that attach to the centromere of each chromosome. These spindle fibres line the chromosomes up along the equator of the cell. The next phase is anaphase, when the spindle fibres shorten. This pulls the chromosomes apart at their centromere, and each sister chromatid is pulled to opposite sides of the cell. The cell is now in telophase. During telophase, the identical bundles of DNA have reached both poles of the cell. Once there, a nuclear envelope forms around each to form two identical nuclei. The DNA decondenses and is no longer recognisable as chromatids. The final stage is cytokinesis, where the cell splits in two. The cell membrane pinches in around the middle until two cells are formed. These are the daughter cells, and are identical to each other and to the original parent cell. These cells then enter interphase again to continue the cell cycle.