Which process is responsible for the duplication of genetic material in the cell cycle?

The process responsible for the duplication of genetic material in the cell cycle is the S Phase, which stands for Synthesis Phase. During this key part of interphase, the DNA is replicated so that each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids by the end of the phase. This ensures that when the cell eventually divides during mitosis, each daughter cell will receive an identical set of chromosomes.

In contrast to the S Phase, the G1 Phase is primarily focused on cell growth and preparing the necessary components for DNA synthesis, and the G2 Phase occurs after S Phase, where the cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis; it does not involve the actual duplication of the genetic material. The Mitotic Phase encompasses the phases of cell division (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) but does not include the replication stage that occurs in S Phase. Therefore, the S Phase is uniquely characterized by the critical event of DNA replication.