Cells go through various phases before actually undergoing mitosis. locate the phase in which the cell copies its genetic material?

Cell copies its genetic material during the S-phase of the interphase during cell cycle.

Explanation:

Cell cycle is broadly divided into two phases ; the interphase and the M-phase.M-phase is the dividing phase during which the karyokinesis and cytokinesis takes place.Interphase is the phase during which the cell prepares itself for division.It is further divided into G1, S and G2 phase.During G1 phase the cell prepares for DNA replication and the replication complexes assemble.The next phase is S-phase during which the DNA replicates itself and the genetic material in the cell doubles.The Next phase is G2 phase during which the DNA is scanned  by DNA tepair complexes and errors in the replicated DNA are edited and repaired.At the end of G2 phase the cell prepares to enter M-phase.

It might. it might because if you think about if they discovered if we came from (lets say something funny like aliens) and thy found cells that matched and they would have t do more research about it but would most probably change their theory.