cell cycle

American  

noun

1. the cycle of growth and asexual reproduction of a cell, consisting of interphase followed in actively dividing cells by prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

---

cell cycle British  

noun

1. the growth cycle of eukaryotic cells. It is divided into five stages, known as G 0 , in which the cell is quiescent, G 1 and G 2 , in which it increases in size, S, in which it duplicates its DNA, and M, in which it undergoes mitosis and divides

---

Etymology

Origin of cell cycle

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Research suggests that about one-third of the variation in Y chromosome loss is inherited, involving around 150 genes related to cell cycle control and cancer risk.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

Cancer cells experience reduced respiration, DNA damage increases, and the cell cycle stops.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

They found that many strains lack genes normally responsible for regulating the cell cycle, the system that controls DNA replication and cell division.

From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026

"It activates hemoglobin synthesis, slows down the cell cycle, and slows down autophagy, which together have a synergistic effect."

From Science Daily • Dec. 16, 2025

They captured them at different stages of maturity, hoping to glimpse the genetic instructions it takes to grow cilia and found a pattern that looked like the cell cycle.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2024