Interphase

Interphase is the active portion of the <a href="/facts/Cell_cycle/nLMT7K4r">cell cycle</a> that includes the <a href="/facts/G1_phase/92lq1LdT">G1</a>, <a href="/facts/S_phase/vplz8LTU">S</a>, and <a href="/facts/G2_phase/alNtT0m1">G2</a> phases, where the cell <a href="/facts/Cell_growth/wbArMaJU">grows</a>, <a href="/facts/DNA_replication/wrU6RuR3">replicates its DNA</a>, and prepares for <a href="/facts/Mitosis/ExxrSUs8">mitosis</a>, respectively. Interphase was formerly called the "resting phase," but the cell in interphase is not simply <a href="/facts/G0_phase/PwxUzrWr">dormant</a>. Calling it so would be misleading since a cell in interphase is very busy <a href="/facts/Protein_biosynthesis/P4IcGjPd">synthesizing proteins</a>, <a href="/facts/Transcription_(biology)/bDgp9HDN">transcribing DNA into RNA</a>, <a href="/facts/Endocytosis/NJjChLNj">engulfing extracellular material</a>, and <a href="/facts/Signal_transduction/1bs0Me6w">processing signals</a>, to name just a few activities. The cell is quiescent only in <a href="/facts/G0_phase/PwxUzrWr">G0</a>. Interphase is the phase of the <a href="/facts/Cell_cycle/nLMT7K4r">cell cycle</a> in which a typical <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cell</a> spends most of its life. Interphase is the "daily living" or <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolic</a> phase of the cell, in which the cell obtains <a href="/facts/Nutrient/34bn4skK">nutrients</a> and <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolizes</a> them, grows, replicates its DNA in preparation for <a href="/facts/Mitosis/ExxrSUs8">mitosis</a>, and conducts other "normal" cell functions.
A common misconception is that interphase is the first stage of <a href="/facts/Mitosis/ExxrSUs8">mitosis</a>, but since mitosis is the division of the <a href="/facts/Cell_nucleus/D7sFRa3c">nucleus</a>, <a href="/facts/Prophase/MleuaEB4">prophase</a> is actually the first stage.
In interphase, the cell gets itself ready for <a href="/facts/Mitosis/ExxrSUs8">mitosis</a> or <a href="/facts/Meiosis/Pj5Q6nGN">meiosis</a>. <a href="/facts/Somatic_cell/Emn7gk9A">Somatic cells</a>, or normal <a href="/facts/Diploid/U8zl4AQe">diploid</a> cells of the body, go through mitosis in order to reproduce themselves through cell division, whereas diploid <a href="/facts/Germ_cell/1kY5KaR1">germ cells</a> (i.e., primary <a href="/facts/Spermatocyte/zGeNAd3B">spermatocytes</a> and primary <a href="/facts/Oocyte/aYrWtc3n">oocytes</a>) go through <a href="/facts/Meiosis/Pj5Q6nGN">meiosis</a> in order to create haploid <a href="/facts/Gametes/j8e8fls6">gametes</a> (i.e., <a href="/facts/Sperm/RCxpXygQ">sperm</a> and <a href="/facts/Ovum/gJyW3W3W">ova</a>) for the purpose of sexual reproduction.

Interphase open-in-new

Interphase