The cell cycle is a series of developmental and growth events that chart the normal life of a cell. This program uses easy-to-follow animation to illustrate the growth phases of the cell cycle and the processes of mitosis and cytokinesis that follow. The distinct phases of mitosis—including prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase—are described in detail. The program also explains meiosis, a variation of mitosis involving the formation of gametes in two stages. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is also covered, including the effects of uncontrolled cell division (cancer). A part of the series Cell Biology: Structure, Function, and Processes. (22 minutes)