AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not

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QUESTIONSHEET 1 margin

Diagram A below shows the different phases during the cell cycle of a eukaryotic cell. Diagram B shows the
amount of DNA present during the different phases. G1 and G2 represent the gap phases during which cell
growth may occur. S is an intermediate phase.

DNA quantity/arbitary units

G2 6

S G2
4
Mitosis
S
Cyto
kine G1
sis 2

G1
0
Interphase Mitosis Interphase
Time
DIAGRAM A DIAGRAM B

(a) Descibe how the quantity of DNA in cells is increased during phase S.

(double helix) of DNA unravels to form two single stranded (primer) DNA molecules;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
these attract complementary (energy rich) nucleotides/nucleoside triphosphates (to primer strands);
these join to (primer) strands forming daughter DNA;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
under influence of DNA polymerase;
bases join by hydrogen bonds between complementary pairs;
and adjacent sugars join by phosphate bridges;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[4]

(b) What will be the quantity of DNA in arbitary units at the end of mitotic cell division?
2 (arbitrary) units
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(c) How is the quantity of DNA returned to this level?

chromatids separate to poles;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
during anaphase;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
nuclear membranes then reform around two daughter nuclei;

each containing the diploid number of chromosome

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(d) What would be the quantity of DNA in arbitary units at the end of a meiotic division.
1 (arbitrary) unit
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

TOTAL / 9
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 2
The diagram below shows the chromosomes of a white blood cell from a mammal (not human).

X Y

(a) In the circles below draw the chromosome content for the same species of mammal of:

(i) an epithelial cell.

[2]

Same

(ii) an egg cell.

[2]

(b) What sex of the mammal did the above chromosomes come from? Explain your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................................................

Male; two chromosomes did not match/ref sex chromosome/X and Y

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

TOTAL / 6
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QUESTIONSHEET 3

(a) There are 18 chromosomes in the somatic (body) cells of a cabbage. How many chromosomes would be
present in each of the following?

(i) male nucleus in the pollen grain.

9
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) a cell in anaphase of mitosis.

36
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(iii) a cell in anaphase I of meiosis.

36
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(iv) a cell in anaphase II of meiosis.

18
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(v) a nucleus in telophase II of meiosis.

9
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(b) The diploid chromosome number of the radish is also 18 chromosomes.

(i) How many chromosomes would there be in a diploid nucleus of the hybrid offspring produced
by crossing a cabbage with a radish? Show your working.

female nucleus = 9 + male nucleus = 9 = 18

Answer:...............................................................
[1]

(ii) Suggest why such a hybrid would be infertile.

...........................................................................................................................................................................

chromosomes of cabbage and radish differ structurally;

...........................................................................................................................................................................
thus bivalents could not form and meiosis/gamete production would fail
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

TOTAL / 8
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 4 margin

(a) What type of cell division occurs in the following tissues?

(i) the apical meristem of a flowering plant.

mitosis;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

(ii) red bone marrow of a mammal.

mitosis;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

(iii) a pollen sac in the anther of a flowering plant.

mitosis and meiosis;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

(iv) the embryo sac in the ovule of a flowering plant.

mitosis and meiosis;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

(v) the inner layer of a seminiferous tubule in a mammalian testis.

meiosis;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[5]

(b) Mitosis is usually involved in producing diploid cells from diploid cells. However there are examples in nature
where it produces haploid cells from haploid cells. Give two such examples.

germination of haploid spores to form gametophyte in mosses/liverworts;

Example 1: .........................................................................................................................................................
growth of the haploid gametophyte in mosses/liverworts/growth of fern gametophyte;
Example 2: .........................................................................................................................................................
/production of haploid gametes in fern gametophyte
[2]

TOTAL / 7
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 5 margin

Although mitosis is a continuous process, for ease of reference it is conventionally divided into the following
stages:
interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

(a) Name the stages of mitosis during which,

(i) the chromatids separate and move to the poles.

(i) anaphase;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) the nuclear membrane reforms and cytokinesis follows.

(ii) telophase;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(iii) the chromosomes align on the equator of the spindle.

(iii) metaphase;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(iv) the chromosomes become stainable and the spindle starts to form.
(iv) prophase; 4
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(b) If the amount of DNA present in the cell at metaphase is 20 units, how much DNA will be present in each
nucleus:

(i) at the start of prophase.

(b) (i) 20 units;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) immediately
(ii) 10 unitsafter telophase.

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

TOTAL / 6
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 6 margin

The diagram below shows the nucleus of a cell during mitosis.

(a) Identify structures A, B and C:

A: pole/aster/centrosome;
A. .......................................................................................................................................................................
B: chromosome;
B. .......................................................................................................................................................................

C: spindle
C. .......................................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) Name the stage in which each of the following processes takes place.

(i) condensation of chromosomes.

prophase; 1
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) movement of daughter chromosomes to the poles.

(ii) anaphase; 1
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) The substance colchicine can be used specifically to inhibit the formation of spindle fibres and so stop mitosis
at a particular stage. At which stage would colchicine stop mitosis?
(c) metaphase; 1
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(d) Name two precise locations where mitosis occurs in plants.

root/shoot tip;
vascular cambium;
1. ........................................................................................................................................................................
cork cambium
2. ................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 8
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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(a) Outline the sequence of changes undergone by chromosomes, during mitosis.

chromosomes replicate into chromatids (except at the centromere);

...........................................................................................................................................................................
DNA deposits on chromosomes (making them stainable/visible);
chromosomes condense/become shorter/fatter;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
chromosomes become attached to spindle;
chromosomes complete replication (at centromere);
one set migrates to one pole and the other set to the other pole;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
chromosomes revert to interphase condition/long and thin/unstainble/lose DNA;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

allow one mark if sequence is correct; max 5

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[5]

(b) The diagram shows a plant cell at a particular stage of mitosis.

(i)(b) (i) telophase;

Identify 1 of mitosis shown.
the stage

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii)(ii) cell
Briefly describe the events
plate/phragmoplast of the next stage of cell division.
forms;
involves vesicles from Golgi complex;
cell wall forms;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
spindle disintegrates
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

TOTAL / 8
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 8 margin

(a) Outline the function of each of the following in the process of mitosis:

(i) centromere.
point where sister chromatids join;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
position is constant;
point of attachment to spindle;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
chromatids unable to separate without centromere/drawn apart at centromeres (by spindle); max 2

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) spindle.
(ii) composed of microtubules/tubulin;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
spindle fibres shorten during anaphase;
pull sister chromatids apart;
...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Outline the significance of meiosis in the process of gamete formation.

...........................................................................................................................................................................

produces haploid cells from diploid cells;

...........................................................................................................................................................................
so preserving diploid state when gametes fuse;
random assortment gives genetic variation;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
chiasmata give genetic variation
[2]

TOTAL / 6
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 9 margin

(a) Explain why it is inappropriate to call interphase a resting stage?

replication of chromosomes occurs;

...........................................................................................................................................................................
in the S phase;
synthesis of proteins occurs;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
synthesis of rRNA/mRNA/tRNA occurs;
cell organelles are produced;
cell carries out all its (metabolic) functions; max 3
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) The diagram below represents the cell cycle.

A
B
C
D
E

Identify the stages A, C, E and F.

A: prophase;
A:C:.......................................................................................................................................................................
anaphase;

C:E:.......................................................................................................................................................................
cytokinesis;

E:F: interphase
........................................................................................................................................................................

F: ........................................................................................................................................................................
[4]

TOTAL / 7
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 10 margin

(a) The statements in the list below the table describe some of the stages of mitosis. Complete the table by writing
in the correct statement with the appropriate stage.

Stage Description

Prophase chromosomes become shorter and thicker;

Metaphase chromosomes attach to spindle ends at equator;

Anaphase daughter chromosomes move to the poles;

nuclear membranes reappear;

Telophase

Interphase chromosomes replicate except at their centromeres;

Cytokinesis division of the cytoplasm occurs

nuclear membranes reappear.

chromosomes replicate except at their centromeres.

division of the cytoplasm occurs.

chromosomes become shorter and thicker.

chromosomes attach to spindle ends at equator.

daughter chromosomes move to the poles. [6]

(b) How does cytokinesis in plants differ from cytokinesis in animals?

...........................................................................................................................................................................

(in animals) cytoplasm divides by constriction (between daughter nuclei);

...........................................................................................................................................................................
(in plants) a phragmoplast/cell plate/new cell wall is synthesised (between the daughter nuclei);
...........................................................................................................................................................................
[2]

TOTAL / 8
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 11 margin

The drawing below shows a dividing animal cell nucleus at the anaphase stage of mitosis.

(a) Briefly describe what you can see happening in this stage of mitosis.

spindles formed from centrosomes/centrioles;

...........................................................................................................................................................................
(daughter/replicated) chromosomes migrating to the poles;
pulled by contracting spindles;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
which are attached to the centromeres;
one set of chromosomes goes to one pole and other set to the other pole; max 4
...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................
[4]

(b) (i) In the space below draw accurately the appearance of the same nucleus at the metaphase stage of mitosis.

(b) (i) and (ii)

Drawing:
4 chromosomes not yet replicated;
attached to spindles by their centromeres;
same chromatid length/centromere positions as in anaphase drawing

[3]

(ii) On your drawing label a centromere and a centrosome (aster).

[2]

TOTAL / 9
AS 7 MITOSIS/CELL CYCLES Do not
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QUESTIONSHEET 12 margin

(a) Read through the following passage about mitosis and then complete it by writing the most appropriate word
or words in the spaces.

In flowering plants the process of mitosis is restricted to the apical .............................. and

to........................................... . In growing mammals mitosis can occur throughout the body. However, not all

regions of the young mammal grow at the same rate and this is called ............................. growth.

In the cell cycle, replication of DNA occurs in the ..................................... phase, after which there is a lag or

gap phase, called the ............................... phase, before actual mitosis starts. The chromosomes also replicate

before the onset of mitosis, but this replication is not visible until the middle of the................................... stage.

At this stage, each chromosome consists of two .............................. held together by a ..................................

In the kangaroo, there are 10 pairs of chromosomes. Thus in mitosis an anaphase cell will contain ...................

chromosomes with migrating .......................... to each pole. The daughter cells therefore have the
meristems; buds/intercalary meristems; allometric; S; G2;
......................... number of 2n = ................. . prophase; chromatids; centromere; 40/20 pairs; 20/10 pairs;
diploid; 20; [12]

(b) The drug colchicine is used in chromosome studies since it inhibits mitosis at metaphase when the chromosomes
are most clearly visible. It does this by inhibiting spindle formation or by breaking down the spindle. Colchicine
is produced by the roots of the Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Suggest an advantage to Autumn
Crocus plants of producing colchicine.
can secrete/release colchicine into surrounding soil;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
where it can inhibit mitosis/root growth of nearby plants/inhibit seed germination;
thus reducing competition from other plants;
...........................................................................................................................................................................
ref to Autumn Crocus being an aggressive plant;
[2]

TOTAL / 14