Which phase involves additional growth and preparation for mitosis?

• A. Gap 1 (G1)
• B. S phase (synthesis)
• C. Gap 2 (G2)
• D. Cytokinesis

Answer: (C)

This phase is the final growth stage before mitosis, when the cell finishes expanding and gets everything ready for division. After DNA has been copied in the previous phase, the cell in this stage grows more, makes the proteins and organelles needed for mitosis (such as components of the spindle), and performs a checkpoint to ensure the DNA replication is complete and undamaged. This combination of extra growth, production of mitotic machinery, and verification steps is why this phase is the preparation period for mitosis. In contrast, the earlier growth phase handles general growth before DNA replication, the DNA-copying phase builds genetic material, and cytokinesis occurs after mitosis to split the cytoplasm.