Look here to see the regular life cycle of a cell.  Notice that some cells (e.g. nerve cells) never divide (go through mitosis) so they are stuck in G₀, or the resting phase.  The cell cycle ranges - it may take as little as 14 hours or as long as 48, depending on the cell type.  Cancer cells have a problem with the cell cycle and end up doing mitosis too frequently.  Which part of their cell cycle would be shortest?  Answer that and I'll give you extra credit. http://www.cellsalive.com/cell_cycle.htm

Here is a good verstion of mitosis of a skin cell.  Notice what happens at each stage.  You can click step by step to see how each phase gradually changes to the next.  You can also click on the list on the right to see a particular phase. When does mitosis happen in the cell cycle?  Go back to the first link and look in the center of the picture...You will find the answer!   http://www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm

Here is another link showing mitosis.  Notice how it is a smooth process.  This animation shows step by step but without the labels.  You can tell what phase the cell is in or near by what is going on.  In prophase a lot happens.  Can you put the events in order?  Look and find out:  When does chromatin coil allowing you to see the chromosomes?  When do the spindle fibers appear? When does the nuclear membrane disappear?  Metaphase and Anaphase are relatively simple phases (and therefore short), but a lot happens again in telophase.  For example: When do the spindle fibers dissapear?  When do nuclear membranes reform?  When does DNA uncoil back into chromatin form?  When does cytokinesis occur?  Are there two new nuclei before or after the cytoplasm splits?  Can you put those steps in order?  Show me!  Your flipbook should show the answers to these as well.  http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/mitosis_animation2.gif