What are the main stages of the cell cycle?

The correct answer, which includes interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis, accurately reflects the primary stages of the cell cycle.

Interphase is the phase where the cell prepares for division, and it is divided into three sub-phases: G1 (growth), S (synthesis, where DNA is replicated), and G2 (preparation for mitosis). During this time, the cell grows and duplicates its DNA to ensure that each daughter cell will have an identical set of chromosomes.

Mitosis is the process itself where the cell's chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei. This is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell receives an accurate copy of the cell's genetic material.

Cytokinesis follows mitosis and is the final step of the cell cycle. It involves the physical division of the cytoplasm, resulting in the formation of two distinct daughter cells. This stage ensures that the two new cells are separate and functional.

The other options include stages or processes that do not accurately represent the main stages of the cell cycle. Meiosis, for example, pertains specifically to the division of sex cells and is not part of the standard cell cycle found in somatic (non-reproductive) cells. Similarly, "preparation, division,