G1 Phase: Growth Without DNA Replication — NEET
✅ Asked in NEET 2024G₁ phase corresponds to the interval between mitosis and initiation of DNA replication. During G₁ phase, the cell is metabolically active and continuously grows but does not replicate its DNA. S or synthesis phase marks the period during which DNA synthesis or replication takes place. During this time the amount of DNA per cell doubles. If the initial amount of DNA is denoted as 2C, then it increases to 4C. However, there is no increase in the chromosome number; if the cell had diploid or 2n number of chromosomes at G₁, even after S phase the number of chromosomes remains the same, i.e., 2n.
The G1 phase is when cells grow metabolically and increase in size, but DNA replication has NOT yet begun. Students commonly confuse G1 with S phase, thinking DNA replication occurs in both phases. Remember: G1 = growth only (DNA stays at 2C), S phase = DNA synthesis (DNA increases from 2C to 4C). Crucially, chromosome number never changes during either phase—a 2n cell remains 2n even after S phase completes. NTA tests this to ensure students understand that DNA content and chromosome number change differently during the cell cycle.
This paragraph was tested 6 times in NEET.
Match List-I with List-II: List-I A. Cells are metabolically active and proliferate B. DNA replication takes place C. Proteins are synthesised D. Quiescent stage with metabolically active cells List-II I. G2 phase II. G1 phase III. G0 phase IV. S phase Choose the correct answer: [NEET 2024 ]
Among eukaryotes, replication of DNA takes place in:
Match List-I with List-II: List-I (a) S phase (b) G₂ phase (c) Quiescent stage (d) G₁ phase List-II (i) Proteins are synthesized (ii) Inactive phase (iii) Interval between mitosis and initiation of DNA replication (iv) DNA replication Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
The fruit fly has 8 chromosomes (2n) in each cell. During interphase of mitosis, if the number of chromosomes at G₁ phase is 8, what would be the number of chromosomes after S phase?
Identify the correct statement with regard to G₁ phase (Gap 1) of interphase.
During cell growth, DNA synthesis takes place in:
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.