OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

Which phase comes directly before the cell divides?

1. G1 phase

2. S phase

3. G2 phase

4. M phase

The correct answer is: M phase

The phase that comes directly before the cell divides is G2 phase. This phase is the final stage of interphase in the cell cycle, where the cell prepares itself for mitosis (the division process). During G2, the cell continues to grow, produces proteins, and synthesizes organelles, all of which are necessary to ensure that the daughter cells will have everything they need after division. This preparation is crucial because it ensures that the cell has duplicated its DNA correctly and that any damage to the DNA is repaired prior to entering the M phase, where actual division occurs. In the G1 phase, the cell is primarily focused on growth and metabolism. The S phase involves the replication of DNA, but that phase also precedes G2. Finally, the M phase encompasses the actual process of cell division, which follows G2. Therefore, G2 is the appropriate phase before the cell transitions into the dividing stage of the M phase.