Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Chromosome Behaviour in Mitosis (CIE AS Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours39 questions
11 mark

Which row is correct?

  Diagram Stage
A screenshot-2023-05-09-213610 Interphase
B screenshot-2023-05-09-213659 Metaphase
C screenshot-2023-05-09-213751 Anaphase
D screenshot-2023-05-09-213839 Telophase

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    21 mark

    The diagrams show chromosomes at different stages of mitosis.

    screenshot-2023-05-09-214628

    Which shows the correct order of the cell cycle?

    • 1 → 2 → 3 → 4

    • 2 → 3 → 4 → 1

    • 3 → 4 → 2 → 1

    • 1 → 2 → 4 → 3

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    31 mark

    The diagram shows a cell nucleus in prophase of mitosis.

    screenshot-2023-05-09-215110

    What is the correct description of the chromosomes found in each daughter nucleus immediately after division of this cell by mitosis?

    • 4 chromosomes, each consisting of 4 chromatids

    • 8 chromosomes, each containing 1 molecule of DNA

    • 8 chromosomes, each consisting of 4 chromatids

    • 16 chromosomes, each containing 1 molecule of DNA

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    41 mark

    A scientist adds a fluorescent dye to dividing cells which stains the nuclear envelope. 

    At which stages of the cell cycle would the nucleus be visible? 

    1 Interphase
    2 Prophase
    3 Telophase
    4 Anaphase
    • 1 only

    • 1 and 3 only

    • 1,2 and 3 only

    • 1, 2, 3 and 4

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    51 mark

    What happens to a cell’s DNA during metaphase of mitosis?

    • Each chromosome forms two chromatids

    • Chromatids reach the poles of the mitotic spindle

    • Chromosomes become shorter and thicker 

    • Chromosomes attach to the equator of the mitotic spindle

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    61 mark

    At which stages of mitosis do centromeres separate and the DNA condenses?

      centromeres separate condensation of DNA
    A metaphase interphase
    B anaphase prophase
    C metaphase telophase
    D anaphase interphase

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      71 mark

      Which statement describes interphase of mitosis?

      • chromosomes start to coil, becoming shorter and fatter

      • chromosomes line up on the equator of the spindle

      • chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibres

      • chromosomes are replicated ready for the next division

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      81 mark

      Which is always true of cytokinesis?

      1

      cell structures are divided between two cells.

      2

      nuclear envelope reforms

      3

      cell structures replicate

      • 1 only

      • 1 and 3 only

      • 2 only

      • 1, 2 and 3

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      91 mark

      During which stage of the mitotic cell cycle is DNA replicated?

      • Metaphase

      • Telophase

      • Prophase

      • Interphase

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      101 mark

      The diagram shows a human cell (2n = 46) at different stages of mitosis. Cell 1 is at the end of prophase and the cells 2 and 3 are daughter cells just after telophase.

      screenshot-2023-05-09-221553

      How many DNA molecules are there in the nucleus of cell 1 and cell 2?

        cell 1 cell 2
      A 46 46
      B 46 23
      C 92 46
      D 92 23

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      11 mark

      The photomicrograph shows cells in different stages of mitosis.

      screenshot-2023-05-10-102220

      In which order do these stages occur?

      • 4 → 1 → 3 → 2 → 5

      • 4 → 1 → 2 → 3 → 5

      • 4 → 3 → 5 → 1 → 2

      • 4 → 5 → 1 → 2 → 3

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      21 mark

      Each of the following events takes place during mitosis.

      1

      Chromosomes uncoil

      2

      Chromatids move to opposite poles of the cell

      3

      Centromeres divide 

      4

      Chromosomes line up along the equator of the spindle 

      5

      Two chromatids are joined by a centromere

      In which order do the events take place?

       

      First        ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→        Last

      A

      B

      C

      D

      1

      3

      4

      5

      2

      1

      5

      4

      4

      2

      3

      3

      5

      4

      1

      2

      3

      5

      2

      1

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        31 mark

        The mitotic spindle has a key role in mitosis.

        What macromolecule is the spindle made from?

        • nucleic acid

        • polypeptide

        • phospholipid

        • polysaccharide

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        41 mark

        The diagram shows the chromosomes of a squashed cell during mitosis.

        screenshot-2023-05-10-103402

        Which stage of mitosis is the cell in and what is the haploid chromosome number in this species?

         

        haploid chromosome number

        stage of mitosis

        A

        B

        C

        D

        5

        5

        10

        10

        anaphase

        metaphase

        anaphase

        metaphase

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          51 mark

          The diagram shows a plant cell’s chromosomes during metaphase.

          screenshot-2023-05-10-103844

          Which row correctly describes this plant cell during metaphase?

           

          diploid number (2n) for the plant

          structures present at metaphase

          cell wall

          centriole

          spindle

          A

          B

          C

          D

          4

          8

          8

          16

          ✔

          ✕

          ✔

          ✔

          ✕

          ✔

          ✕

          ✔

          ✔

          ✔

          ✔

          ✕

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            61 mark

            What row correctly describes an animal cell’s nuclear envelope, centrioles and spindle during mitosis?

             

            phase

            nuclear envelope

            centrioles

            spindle

            A

            B

            C

            D

            anaphase

            metaphase

            prophase

            telophase

            absent

            reforms

            breaks up

            breaks up

            replicate

            present

            move apart

            replicate

            present

            present

            forms

            breaks up

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              71 mark

              Colchicine is a drug that is used to treat imflammaton and pain. Its action within cells is to stop chromatids from separating during mitosis.

              Which phase will the cell reach and then stop dividing?

              • anaphase

              • metaphase

              • prophase

              • telophase

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              81 mark

              Which is the correct statement concerning cell and nuclear division?

              • Mutagens can cause mutations whereas carcinogens can cause cancer. This means that all mutagens are carcinogenic.

              • Just before prophase, the mass of DNA is double the normal mass. Following anaphase, this mass is reduced by half and following cytokinesis this mass halves again.

              • Haploid eukaryotes can reproduce by mitosis whereas diploid eukaryotes can reproduce by mitosis or meiosis.

              • Some of the roles of mitosis are growth, asexual reproduction, cell repair following tissue damage and cell replacement.

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              91 mark

              Which statement about stages in mitosis is correct? 

              • in metaphase the nuclear envelope breaks down

              • in telophase chromatids separate

              • in anaphase centrosomes divide

              • in prophase centrioles separate

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              101 mark

              What of the following does not happen in an animal cell cycle? 

              1

              DNA is expressed

              2

              spindle is formed from microtubules

              3

              cell plate forms to divide daughter cells

              • 3 only

              • 1 and 3 only

              • 2 only

              • none

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              11 mark

              The graphs show measurements taken from metaphase of mitosis onwards. 

              The graphs are to scale when compared to one another.

              screenshot-2023-05-10-155213

              Which row correctly identifies each graph?

                1 2 3
              A distance of centromere from pole of spindle distance between poles of spindle

              distance between sister chromatids 

              B distance between sister chromatids distance between poles of spindle distance of centromere from pole of spindle
              C distance between sister chromatids distance of centromere from pole of spindle distance between poles of spindle
              D

              distance between poles of spindle

              distance of centromere from pole of spindle distance between sister chromatids

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                21 mark

                What features would be observed in a human cell immediately before the onset of mitosis?

                 

                number of molecules of DNA in nucleus

                nuclear envelope present

                number of chromatids

                spindle present
                A 46 no 46 yes
                B 46 yes 92 no
                C 92 yes 46 yes
                D 92 yes 92 no

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                  31 mark

                  The graph shows the changes in the quantity of DNA present in the nucleus of one cell at different stages of a mammal’s life cycle.

                  screenshot-2023-05-10-161501

                  Which stage takes place at X?

                  • interphase

                  • metaphase

                  • prophase

                  • telophase

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                  41 mark

                  The protein called mitosis-promoting factor (MPF) has been discovered in cells and is known to cause prophase to start. Usually MPF breaks down and stops functioning during anaphase.

                  What is a possible consequence of MPF not breaking down?

                  • cells produced are smaller than usual

                  • early cytokinesis

                  • uncontrolled cell division

                  • four cells being made from one parent cell

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                  51 mark

                  Some chemotherapy treatments used to stop tumour growth work by preventing the DNA double helix from uncoiling and separating.

                  During which stage of the cell cycle would they act?

                  • anaphase

                  • metaphase

                  • prophase

                  • interphase

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                  61 mark

                  Nocodazole is a chemical used in the study of mitosis. It causes all mitotic cells to stop dividing at metaphase.

                  Which statements correctly identify how this chemical might work?

                  1

                  prevents replication of the centrioles

                  2

                  stops sister chromatids migrating to opposite poles

                  3

                  inhibits chromatin condensing in the nucleus

                  • 2 only

                  • 1 and 2 only

                  • 2 and 3 only

                  • 1, 2 and 3

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                  71 mark

                  Cancer cells have distinctive differences from normal cell, for example they are sometimes much bigger and sometime smaller and they don’t produce proteins required on the cell surface for cell adhesion and signalling.

                  Which stage of the cell cycle is most affected in cancer cells?

                  • anaphase

                  • metaphase

                  • cytokinesis

                  • interphase

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                  81 mark

                  A student studied a garlic root tip under a microscope and records the following data.

                  Stage Number of Cells
                  Interphase 793
                  Prophase 64
                  Metaphase 21
                  Anaphase 8
                  Telophase 6
                    Total = 892

                  What percentage of studied cells have chromosomes visible and have pairs of chromatids joined together?

                  • 7.2%

                  • 9.5%

                  • 10.2%

                  • 98.4%

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                  91 mark

                  The graph shows three measurements obtained following metaphase of mitosis.qp-9-hard-5-2-chromosome-behaviour-in-mitosis-cie-ial-biology

                  What measurements do the curves represent?

                    distance between centromeres and poles of spindle

                  distance between centromeres of sister chromatids

                  distance between poles of spindle
                  A 1 2 3
                  B 3 2 1
                  C 3 1 2
                  D 1 3 2

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                    101 mark

                    Cells of a root tip meristem were studied and the number of cells in each phase of the cell cycle are noted in the table below.

                    Stage Number of Cells
                    Interphase 206
                    Prophase 57
                    Metaphase 18
                    Anaphase 10
                    Telophase 44
                      Total = 335

                    A complete cell cycle of a root tip meristem cell is 24 hours. 

                    How long do these cells take to line chromosomes up on the cell equator?

                    • 43 minutes

                    • 77 minutes

                    • 189 minutes

                    • 245 minutes

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