Summary:
- The cell cycle in prokaryotes is quite simple: the cell grows, its DNA replicates, and the cell divides.
- In eukaryotic cells there are two growth phases, and cell division and mitosis.
- The cell cycle is controlled mainly by regulatory proteins.
- These proteins control the cycle by signaling the cell to either start or delay the next phase of the cycle.
- Cancer is a disease that occurs when the cycle is no longer regulated and may form a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor.