What does the cell cycle refer to?

The cell cycle refers specifically to the series of stages that a cell undergoes in preparation for division, encompassing growth, DNA replication, and the division of the cell itself. This cycle consists of distinct phases: interphase (which includes the G1, S, and G2 phases) and the mitotic phase (or M phase), during which the cell divides. Interphase is focused on cell growth and DNA synthesis, while the mitotic phase is where the actual division occurs.

This concept is critical for understanding how cells proliferate and maintain the organism's growth and repair processes. The cell cycle is fundamental to biological processes such as development, tissue regeneration, and the response to cellular damage. Other options, although related to biological concepts, do not pertain to the cell cycle. For instance, natural selection pertains to evolutionary biology, energy transformations involve bioenergetics, and ecosystem succession refers to ecological processes, all of which represent different principles unrelated to the specific phases of cell growth and division.