Interphase is the longest phase of the cell cycle, where the cell grows and duplicates its DNA in preparation for cell division. It consists of G1, S, and G2 phases. During G1 the cell grows, during S phase DNA is replicated, and during G2 the cell undergoes further growth before entering mitosis. Mitosis then follows, where the duplicated chromosomes are separated and distributed into two daughter cells with identical DNA to the parent cell. Mitosis plays an important role in cell growth, development, and replacement.