B2 - Cell Division

Question 1

What does the nucleus of a cell contain?

Answer 1

The nucleus of a cell contains chromosomes made of DNA molecules. Each chromosome carries a large number of genes.
In body cells the chromosomes are normally found in pairs.

Question 2

What happens during the cell cycle?

Answer 2

During the cell cycle the genetic material is doubled and then divided into two identical cells.

Question 3

What does a cell need to do before mitosis? (Interphase)

Answer 3

Before a cell can divide it needs to grow and increase the number of sub-cellular structures such as ribosomes and mitochondria. The DNA replicates to form two copies of each chromosome.