The time spent in each phase of the cell cycle can vary depending on the type of cell and organism. However, a general breakdown of the time allocated to each phase in a typical eukaryotic cell undergoing mitosis is as follows:
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Interphase: This is the longest phase of the cell cycle, typically accounting for about 90% of the total time. Interphase is subdivided into:
- G1 phase (Gap 1): Several hours to days, depending on the cell type
- S phase (Synthesis): About 6-8 hours
- G2 phase (Gap 2): Several hours to a few hours, depending on the cell type
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Prophase: This phase usually lasts about 30-60 minutes but can vary.
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Metaphase: This phase is relatively short, usually lasting around 10-20 minutes.
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Anaphase: Anaphase typically lasts from about 5-10 minutes.
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Telophase: This phase usually lasts around 10-30 minutes.
Overall, while interphase dominates the timeline, the M phase (prophase through telophase) is much shorter—often just 1-2 hours total. These times can vary significantly based on the specific organism, cell type, and environmental conditions.