When does DNA replication occur in the cell cycle?

DNA replication occurs during the S phase (Synthesis phase) of interphase in the cell cycle. The cell cycle consists of three main phases: G1 (gap 1), S (synthesis), G2 (gap 2), and M (mitosis). The S phase is specifically dedicated to the replication of the cell’s DNA, ensuring that each daughter cell will inherit an identical copy of the genome after cell division. This phase occurs before the cell enters mitosis or meiosis, during which cell division and the segregation of chromosomes take place.