The cell cycle is the ordered sequence of events that govern the life cycle and division of a cell, a fundamental process essential for growth, tissue repair, and reproduction. This cycle is conventionally divided into interphase and the mitotic (M) phase. Interphase includes G1 (first gap), where the cell grows and synthesizes proteins; S (synthesis), where the cell replicates its entire genome, creating identical copies of each chromosome; and G2 (second gap), where the cell prepares for division. The M phase comprises mitosis, the process of nuclear division that equally segregates the replicated chromosomes into new nuclei, and subsequent cytokinesis, which physically divides the cytoplasm into two daughter cells. The cycle's progression is tightly controlled by complex molecular mechanisms and internal checkpoints, which monitor crucial factors like DNA integrity and chromosome alignment to ensure accurate replication and prevent uncontrolled cellular division.