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The cell cycle is a pattern of growth, DNA replication, and cell division that occurs in a eukaryotic cell.

Simply put it's a process that cells go through to divide and make new cells.

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Why do cells need to divide? Here are three main reasons:
1. Growth - to help you get bigger
2. Repair - to fix damaged tissues
3. Replacement - to replace old, worn-out cells

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During Interphase, the cell does its 'homework' to get ready for division:
- Grows bigger
- Makes a copy of its DNA
- Produces more organelles
This is the longest phase of the cell cycle.

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Mitosis is where the magic happens! The cell divides its nucleus into two identical copies. Remember PMAT:
P - Prophase (DNA condenses)
M - Metaphase (DNA lines up)
A - Anaphase (DNA separates)
T - Telophase (Two new nuclei form)

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The grand finale! After mitosis, the cell's cytoplasm splits in two during cytokinesis. Each new cell is identical and has everything it needs to survive!

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Ready to test your knowledge? Click the link below to play an awesome game where you can control the cell cycle! Try to get all the stages in the right order. Can you beat your own high score? 🎮

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Remember these key points:
1. The cell cycle helps cells divide and make copies
2. Interphase is the longest phase
3. PMAT helps us remember the stages of mitosis
4. Cytokinesis splits the cell in two

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Apoptosis: A process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

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Cell Theory: A scientific theory which describes the properties of cells, the basic unit of all living organisms.

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Chromosomes: Thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells, made of protein and a single molecule of DNA.

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DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms.

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Stem Cell: An undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation.

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Cell Differentiation: The process where a cell changes from one cell type to another, usually to a more specialized type.

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Binary Fission: A kind of asexual reproduction that is the most common form of reproduction in prokaryotes such as bacteria.

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Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.