Question

Cells in $G_0$ phase

• A. terminate the cell cycle
• B. exit the cell cycle
• C. enter the cell cycle
• D. suspend the cell cycle

Answer 1

The correct option is B exit the cell cycle

Cell cycle is an orderly sequence of events during which a cell grows, duplicates its genetic material and then undergoes division.

Cell cycle includes a non-dividing phase, the interphase, and a dividing phase, the mitotic phase.

Interphase is of long duration and is divided into G1, S and G2 phases.

During the G1 phase, cells are metabolically active and cellular contents are synthesised (cell organelles, proteins, RNA) and, thus, there is overall cell growth.

During S phase, DNA undergoes replication and makes a complimentary copy of itself. The total content of DNA gets doubled.

During G2 phase, proteins like tubulin needed for cell division are synthesised.

The cells that do not divide further, exit the cell cycle in G1 phase and enter into a quiescent (a period of dormancy or inactivity) stage called $G_0$ phase.

Cells in the $G_0$ stage remain metabolically active but no longer divide unless called on to do so depending on the requirement of the organism.