Cellular progression through the cell cycle is governed by a regulated system involving cyclin-Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) complexes that phosphorylate target proteins to drive phase-specific events, coupled with quality-control checkpoints that enforce fidelity. This regulatory framework operates within the domain of cellular biology, functioning as the fundamental mechanism ensuring genomic integrity and tissue homeostasis by linking molecular signaling to macroscopic cell proliferation. The theory posits that the failure of these inhibition and activation mechanisms, specifically the persistence of CDK activity or the loss of checkpoint function, leads to uncontrolled division and tumorigenesis.
Prerequisite chain context: requires Mitosis and Nuclear Division Mechanisms.