Phases of Cell Cycle NEET 2026: G1, S, G2 and M

What is the correct match in the phases of cell cycle NEET 2026 question?

Option (4) is correct: A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I. The phases of cell cycle NEET 2026 Biology question is tagged medium in the supplied question bank. Its expected solving time is 60 seconds, a bank estimate, not an official per-question limit.

Match each phase in List I with its activity in List II. Select the option that gets all four pairs right.

List I, cell-cycle phases:

List II, activities:

• I: The cell undergoes actual division.
• II: Metabolism and growth continue without DNA replication.
• III: DNA replication doubles the DNA content per cell.
• IV: Growth continues alongside protein production for mitotic preparation.

Choose the complete matching:

Why do G1 and S match activities II and III?

G1 matches II because growth continues without DNA replication; S matches III because DNA is replicated. The deciding difference is whether the cell is copying its DNA, not whether it is active or growing. Follow the supplied solution’s order: establish G1 first, then S.

Step 1: Match G1 with II. During G1, the cell is metabolically active and continues to grow, but it does not replicate its DNA. “No DNA replication” does not mean “no cellular activity”: metabolism and the processes supporting growth continue. Therefore, the first match is A–II.

Step 2: Match S with III. S is the DNA-synthesis phase. Replication doubles the amount of DNA per cell, giving B–III.

That does not itself double chromosome number. When chromosomes are counted by centromeres, each replicated chromosome still counts as one chromosome, although it now contains two sister chromatids.

The partial result is A–II, B–III. DNA amount measures how much DNA is present; chromosome number uses a different counting rule.

Why do G2 and M complete option (4)?

G2 matches IV because the cell continues growing and makes proteins for mitosis; M matches I because actual cell division occurs. The distinction is preparation versus division itself. Together with the G1 and S matches, these pairs establish option (4).

Step 3: Match G2 with IV. After DNA replication, growth continues and proteins are synthesised in preparation for mitosis. Therefore, the third match is C–IV.

Protein synthesis is not exclusive to G2. The intended match concerns its role in preparing the cell for mitosis, not a claim that protein production occurs nowhere else.

Step 4: Match M with I. M is the phase in which actual cell division takes place. Therefore, the fourth match is D–I.

The complete matching is A–II, B–III, C–IV, D–I. The answer is option (4), labelled D in the supplied answer bank; that answer-bank label is separate from phase label D.

• G1 → II: Growth and metabolism without DNA replication.
• S → III: DNA replication doubles DNA content.
• G2 → IV: Continued growth and protein synthesis for mitosis.
• M → I: Actual cell division.

Why does option (1) fail even though G1 involves protein synthesis?

Option (1) incorrectly places division in S and DNA replication in M. If you assign A–IV because G1 involves growth and protein synthesis, then select option (1) without checking its other pairs, the error is incomplete verification. One broadly true association cannot establish the entire matching.

The complete descriptions must distinguish the listed phases. G1–II identifies growth without DNA replication, while G2–IV identifies continued growth with protein synthesis for mitotic preparation.

This distinction does not require the false claim that proteins are made only during G2. Read the activities as a set rather than accepting an isolated phrase.

Check the remaining pairs in option (1):

• B–I: It places actual cell division in S, which is the DNA-replication phase.
• C–II: It gives G2 the description intended for G1.
• D–III: It places DNA replication in M, which is the division phase.

Justify every phase–activity pair independently, then verify the full option. Do not accept an option just because one phrase sounds familiar.

Can you apply the same reasoning to three related cell-cycle questions?

Test the distinctions through DNA content, mitotic preparation and phase order. These are original related practice questions, not verified past-paper questions. Attempt each before reading its worked answer.

What happens to DNA content and chromosome number after S phase?

A cell starts S phase with the DNA content below. Find its DNA content immediately after S phase, and decide whether its chromosome number has doubled. $\text{Starting DNA content}=2C$

Worked answer: Replication doubles the starting DNA amount: $\text{DNA content after S}=2\times 2C=4C$

Chromosome number is unchanged. Each chromosome now has two sister chromatids, but centromere-based counting still counts it as one chromosome.

Which phase follows replication and prepares the cell for mitosis?

A cell has completed DNA replication. It continues growing while producing proteins needed for mitosis.

Worked answer: G2. Replication is complete, so this is not S phase. M phase has not begun; the growth and preparation identify G2.

What is the phase order, and which phases form interphase?

Interphase comprises G1, S and G2. Beginning with G1, write the complete phase sequence and explain why interphase is not an inactive interval.

Worked answer: $G_1\to S\to G_2\to M$

G1 and G2 include active growth, while S includes DNA replication. Interphase therefore includes both growth and DNA copying, before M phase.

Before attempting a Free NEET Biology Mock Test: Choose the Right Format, cover these answers and justify each match in one sentence.