What does the M phase of the cell cycle include?

The M phase of the cell cycle, which stands for mitotic phase, includes both mitosis and cytokinesis. During mitosis, the replicated chromosomes are segregated into two new nuclei, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. Following mitosis, cytokinesis occurs, which is the process that divides the cytoplasm and organelles of the parent cell into two separate daughter cells. This phase is critical for cell division and marks the culmination of the cell cycle, as it leads to the formation of two independent cells ready to enter their own cycles.

In contrast, the options that mention only DNA replication, cellular respiration, or cell growth and metabolic processes describe events that occur in other phases of the cell cycle, such as the S phase for DNA replication and interphase for growth and metabolism. Thus, clearly defining the M phase as encompassing both mitosis and cytokinesis aligns with the fundamental concepts surrounding cell division.