High School Biology : Cell Division

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Cell Division

In which phase has the cell left the cell cycle and has stopped dividing, in other words, which of the following is the resting phase?

Possible Answers:

G2 phase

S phase

G2

G0

Telophase 

Correct answer:

G0

Explanation:

G0 phase is a post-mitotic phase. It may be a permanent (as often is the case for neurons) or semi-permanent (for some liver, kidney, and stomach cells) phase. Epithelial cells do not enter G0, allowing these cells to continue to divide throughout an organisms life. 

Example Question #11 : Mitosis

In what stage of Mitosis does crossing over occur?

Possible Answers:

Crossing over does not occur in mitosis.

Crossing over occurs in telophase right before the cells split since all the DNA and cell growth has occurred by this point.

Crossing over occurs in anaphase at each pole of the cell where the chromosomes are packed together.

None of these

Crossing over occurs in metaphase when all the chromosomes are aligned in the middle of the cell. Their close proximity allows crossing over to occur.

Correct answer:

Crossing over does not occur in mitosis.

Explanation:

Mitosis is cellular cloning. This means that Mitosis ends with two identical cells; no variation. Mitosis is how the body repairs skin and other tissues. Because the tissue being repaired needs to match its neighboring cell, there is no need for variation which is exactly what crossing over does. It mixes-n-matches the genetic material amongst chromosomes, which helps to give rise to the variation we see amongst our own species and in all animals that reproduce sexually (Meiosis). 

Example Question #12 : Understanding Stages Of Mitosis

In which stage of mitosis do sister chromatids line up along an imaginary line that divides the cell in half?

Possible Answers:

G2

Cytokinesis

Anaphase

S phase

Metaphase

Correct answer:

Metaphase

Explanation:

Metaphase is characterized by the lining up of chromosomes along the "metaphase plate," an imaginary line that divides the cell in half. Following metaphase and during anaphase, the sister chromatids will separate and move towards the poles of the cell.

Example Question #11 : Mitosis

Mitosis and meiosis are similar and often incorrectly thought of as the same process. Which of these best explains their differences? 

Possible Answers:

Mitosis does not generate any new cell while meiosis does. 

Mitosis will generate 4 daughter cells with half the genetic material from the parent cell, while meiosis will generate two daughter cells with the same genetic material from the parent cell.

Meiosis only occurs in humans while mitosis occurs in every living organism. 

Mitosis will generate two daughter cells with the same genetic material from the parent cell, while meiosis will generate 4 daughter cells with half the genetic material from the parent cell. 

The terms mitosis and meiosis can be used interchangeably when explaining cell division. 

Correct answer:

Mitosis will generate two daughter cells with the same genetic material from the parent cell, while meiosis will generate 4 daughter cells with half the genetic material from the parent cell. 

Explanation:

There are many ways that mitosis and meiosis differ, in this question we are primed to look at the differences in the end products of each type of cell division.

Mitosis creates two new cells that are identical to the parent cell (diploid). Meiosis creates 4 new cells with half the genetic information (haploid) in each cell, and the cells are nonidentical to the parent cell and to their sister cells.

Example Question #14 : Understanding Stages Of Mitosis

Which stage of mitosis exhibits chromatids lining up on the equatorial plate?

Possible Answers:

Telophase

Prophase

Metaphase

Prometaphase

Anaphase

Correct answer:

Metaphase

Explanation:

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Example Question #11 : Mitosis

Which stage of mitosis exhibits the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere?

Possible Answers:

Telophase

Anaphase

Metaphase

Prometaphase

Prophase

Correct answer:

Anaphase

Explanation:

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Example Question #16 : Understanding Stages Of Mitosis

Which stage of mitosis exhibits the spindles forming and chromosomes condensing?

Possible Answers:

Metaphase

Anaphase

Telophase

Prometaphase

Prophase

Correct answer:

Prophase

Explanation:

Prophase- spindles forming, chromosomes condense, and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Prometaphase- microtubules grow

Metaphase- chromatids are lined up in the center of the cell on the equatorial plate

Anaphase- the two chromatids of the chromosome  are pulled apart at the centromere

Telophase- new nuclear membranes form around each set of chromosomes, the spindles break down, and chromosomes decondense

Example Question #13 : Mitosis

ProphasePremetaphaseMetaphaseAnaphaseTelophase

List the stages of Mitosis.

Possible Answers:

Premetaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase, cytokinesis, prophase

Interphase, Metaphase, premetaphase, anaphase, cytokinesis, telophase, prophase

Prophase, premetaphase, interphase, anaphase, telophase, metaphase, cytokinesis

Interphase, prophase, telophase, premetaphase, cytokinesis, metaphase, anaphase

Interphase, prophase, premetaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis.

Correct answer:

Interphase, prophase, premetaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis.

Explanation:

Interphase would be first as this is the part of the cycle cycle that the cell prepares to enter Mitosis. The key indicators of prophase are that the nuclear envelope is still intact and the chromosomes are beginning to pair up sister chromatids. The mitotic spindle is also beginning to form. Premetaphase, the next phase, is when the spindle has attached itself to the respective chromosomes and they begin to migrate to the center of the cell. In Metaphase the chromosomes have lined up on the mitotic plate and beginning to separate. In anaphase each sister chromatid moves to its respective side of the cell, as it is being pulled there by the mitotic spindle. The last phase of mitosis is telophase, which is indicated by the beginning of the cell splitting into two, called cytokinesis.

Example Question #14 : Mitosis

At which phase of mitosis are the chromosomes separated and move to each side of the cell?

Possible Answers:

Anaphase

Metaphase

Telophase

Prophase

Premetaphase

Correct answer:

Anaphase

Explanation:

Anaphase is where the duplicated chromosomes split, disconnected at the centromere, and each sister chromatid is moved towards opposite sides of the cells. 

Example Question #17 : Understanding Stages Of Mitosis

Telophase is the next phase in mitosis. List two things that occur during this phase. 

Possible Answers:

The spindles begin to develop and pull each set of chromosomes to opposite sides of the cell.

Chromosomes are lined up in the center of the cell and the mitotic spindle begins to pulls them towards either side of the cell.

Chromosome sets are assembled at opposite ends of the cell and a nuclear envelope forms around the chromosomes. 

The nuclear envelope begins to breakdown and the chromosomes begin to move to opposite sides of the cell.

Chromosomes are lined up in the middle of the cell and the nuclear envelope begins to form.

Correct answer:

Chromosome sets are assembled at opposite ends of the cell and a nuclear envelope forms around the chromosomes. 

Explanation:

Important indications that the cell is in telophase are that the chromosomes have been moved towards the opposite sides of the cell. The nuclear envelope does begin to form around the new respective nucleus of each daughter cell and the cell itself begins the stages of cytokinesis, or this splitting of the cell into two daughter cells.

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