Question

Set up the simulation in Gizmo "Cell Division" by clicking on the bar graph tab and press play. After 100 simulation hours have passed, click pause and examine the bar chart. The height of each bar represents how many cells in the group are in each phase of the cell cycle. Which phase does the cell spend most of its time?

Which phase are most of the cells in? Why do you think that is?
Interphase: because that is where the parts of the cell and chromosomes are duplicated and checked and that takes the most time.
Prophase: because that is when chromosomes condense and that takes the most time
Metaphase: because that is when spindle fibers attach and chromosomes begin to line up and that takes the most time
Anaphase: because sister chromatids are pulled apart and move towards the poles which takes the most time
Telophase: because chromosomes arrive at opposite poles and the nuclear envelope rebuilds around them taking the most time.
Cytokinesis: because the two daughter cells cleave apart and that takes the most time.

Answer 1

Interphase.

The bar for Interphase will be tallest — a single cell spends most of its time in interphase (G1, S, G2), and therefore most cells in the population are also in interphase. Interphase includes growth, DNA replication and checkpoint/repair steps and is much longer than the brief M-phase steps (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis), so at any snapshot most cells are found in interphase.