<P> Interphase is the phase of the cell cycle in which a typical cell spends most of its life . During this phase, the cell copies its DNA in preparation for mitosis . Interphase is the' daily living' or metabolic phase of the cell, in which the cell obtains nutrients and metabolizes them, grows, reads its DNA, and conducts other "normal" cell functions . The majority of eukaryotic cells spend most of their time in interphase . This phase was formerly called the resting phase . However, interphase does not describe a cell that is merely resting; rather, the cell is living, and preparing for later cell division, so the name was changed . A common misconception is that interphase is the first stage of mitosis . However, since mitosis is the division of the nucleus, prophase is actually the first stage . </P> <P> In interphase, the cell gets itself ready for mitosis or meiosis . Somatic cells, or normal diploid cells of the body, go through mitosis in order to reproduce themselves through cell division, whereas diploid germ cells (i.e., primary spermatocytes and primary oocytes) go through meiosis in order to create haploid gametes (i.e., sperm and ova) for the purpose of sexual reproduction . Chromosomes are copied . </P>

What stage does a cell spend most of the time in