Mitosis and the cell cycle: exam questions

8 questions, 23 marks. Write your answers on paper, then open each mark scheme.

Question 1

Unit 2 style

Which statement describes what happens during anaphase of mitosis?

  1. Chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope breaks down
  2. Chromosomes line up on the equator of the cell
  3. Centromeres divide and sister chromatids move to opposite poles
  4. Nuclear envelopes re-form around the chromosomes
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 1

Question 2

Unit 2 style

A student counted 200 cells in a root tip squash. 30 of the cells were in mitosis. What was the mitotic index?

  1. 0.15
  2. 0.17
  3. 6.7
  4. 0.85
[1 mark]
Show mark scheme for question 2

Question 3

Unit 2 style

Describe the events that take place during interphase and prophase of the cell cycle.

[4 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 3

Question 4

Unit 2 style

Explain why mitosis produces daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell, and give two uses of mitosis in a multicellular organism.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 4

Question 5

Unit 3 style

A student prepared a root tip squash to observe mitosis. Describe how she should prepare the slide and explain the purpose of three of the steps.

[5 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 5

Question 6

Unit 3 style

Identify two hazards in the root tip squash practical and state how each risk can be reduced.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 6

Question 7

Unit 2 style

The table shows a student's counts of cells from one root tip squash. Calculate the mitotic index. Show your working.

Cells counted in several fields of view
StageNumber of cells
Prophase18
Metaphase9
Anaphase6
Telophase7
Interphase280
[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 7

Question 8

Unit 2 style

The mitotic index of region X of a root tip was 0.02 and of region Y was 0.18. Suggest what this shows and one way the student could make the results more reliable.

[3 marks]
Show mark scheme for question 8