DNA

8.1.1 Eukaryotic Cell Cycle Cells don?t grow to be very large because as the cell gets larger, its volume increases faster than its surface area. If the surface-area-to-volume ratio gets too small, then the cell will not be able to function properly. Before a cell divides, the genetic material must be organized and it must make a duplicate copy of its DNA for the daughter cell. The cell cycle divides the life of a cell into several phases: G1 phase (first gap) S phase (synthesis phase) G2 phase (second gap) M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis). DNA must be organized into a more condensed form before cell division. DNA plus proteins pack into a more condensed form.