Analyse the events during every stage of cell cycle and notice how the following two parameters change (i) number of chromosomes (N) per cell (ii) amount of DNA content (C) per cell

The cell cycle comprises a series of stages during which a cell grows, replicates its DNA, and divides to produce daughter cells. During this cycle, two key parameters—number of chromosomes (N) and amount of DNA content (C)—undergo distinct changes. Below is an analysis of these changes across each phase of the cell cycle:

G₀ Phase (Resting Phase)

• Number of Chromosomes (N): Remains constant; cells are not actively dividing.

• Amount of DNA Content (C): Stable; no DNA replication occurs.

G₁ Phase (First Gap Phase)

• Number of Chromosomes (N): Constant; each chromosome consists of a single chromatid.

• Amount of DNA Content (C): Denoted as 2C; represents the total DNA content in the cell.

S Phase (Synthesis Phase)

• Number of Chromosomes (N): Remains unchanged; each chromosome replicates to form two sister chromatids.

• Amount of DNA Content (C): Doubles to 4C; DNA replication occurs, resulting in two chromatids per chromosome.

G₂ Phase (Second Gap Phase)

• Number of Chromosomes (N): Unchanged; chromosomes consist of two sister chromatids.

• Amount of DNA Content (C): Remains at 4C; no further DNA replication occurs.

M Phase (Mitosis)

• Number of Chromosomes (N): Divides into two sets; each daughter cell receives the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

• Amount of DNA Content (C): Halves to 2C in each daughter cell; DNA is equally distributed during cell division.