Cell Cycle Practice Questions

Question 1

Which process is used by prokaryotic cells to divide?

o A) Mitosis
o B) Meiosis
o C) Binary fission
o D) Cytokinesis

Answer 1

C) Binary fission

Question 2

In which phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle does DNA replication occur?

o A) G1 phase
o B) S phase
o C) G2 phase
o D) M phase

Answer 2

o B) S phase

Question 3

What happens during the G0 phase of the cell cycle?

o A) Cells divide rapidly
o B) Cells exit the cell cycle and stop dividing
o C) Cells prepare for mitosis
o D) DNA is replicated

Answer 3

B) Cells exit the cell cycle and stop dividing

Question 4

Following DNA replication, which structure is responsible for holding sister
chromatids together?

o A) Centriole
o B) Nucleus
o C) Spindle fibers
o D) Centromere

Answer 4

D) Centromere

Question 5

What occurs during metaphase in mitosis?

o A) Chromosomes condense
o B) Chromosomes attach to spindle fibers
o C) Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate
o D) Sister chromatids separate

Answer 5

C) Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate

Question 6

In which phase do sister chromatids move to opposite poles of the cell?

o A) Prophase
o B) Metaphase
o C) Anaphase
o D) Telophase

Answer 6

C) Anaphase

Question 7

What is the primary function of astral microtubules? (animals only)
o A) To attach chromosomes to kinetochores
o B) To position and control the length of the spindle
o C) To form the metaphase plate
o D) To move chromatids during Anaphase

Answer 7

B) To position and control the length of the spindle

Question 8

Which of the following occurs during cytokinesis?

o A) Chromosomes condense
o B) Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate
o C) The cell divides its cytoplasm into two daughter cells
o D) The spindle apparatus disassembles

Answer 8

o C) The cell divides its cytoplasm into two daughter cells

Question 9

Which of the following stages occurs immediately after G1 in the cell cycle?

A) G0
B) S phase
C) G2 phase
D) Cytokinesis

Answer 9

B) S phase

Question 10

What happens during the S phase of the cell cycle?

A) The cell grows
B) DNA is synthesized and replicated
C) Chromosomes condense
D) The nuclear envelope breaks down

Answer 10

B) DNA is synthesized and replicated

Question 11

What is the function of kinetochore microtubules during mitosis?

A) They condense the chromatin
B) They attach to chromosomes and move them around
C) They control spindle length
D) They form the contractile ring during cytokinesis

Answer 11

B) They attach to chromosomes and move them around

Question 12

Which of the following processes is associated with G0 phase?

A) DNA replication
B) Active cell division
C) Terminal differentiation
D) Chromosome condensation

Answer 12

C) Terminal differentiation

Question 13

Which one of the below is responsible for pulling sister chromatids apart during
anaphase?

A) Centromeres
B) Microfilaments
C) Kinetochore microtubules
D) Nuclear envelope

Answer 13

C) Kinetochore microtubules

Question 14

Which occurs during prophase in mitosis?
A) Chromosomes align at the metaphase plate
B) Chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope begins to break down
C) Sister chromatids are pulled to opposite poles
D) The spindle disappears and the nuclear envelope reforms

Answer 14

B) Chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope begins to break down

Question 15

In a eukaryotic cell, what is the result of DNA replication during S phase?

A) Two identical daughter cells
B) Formation of two sister chromatids
C) Chromatin condensation
D) Spindle fiber formation

Answer 15

B) Formation of two sister chromatids

Question 16

In which phase do the nuclear envelope reforms around the daughter nuclei?

A) Prophase
B) Anaphase
C) Telophase
D) Metaphase

Answer 16

C) Telophase

Question 17

Which structure in plant cells is involved in cytokinesis?

A) Cleavage furrow
B) Cell plate
C) Kinetochore
D) Centrosome

Answer 17

B) Cell plate

Question 18

What is the role of non-kinetochore microtubules during mitosis?
A) They move chromosomes to opposite poles
B) They attach to the plasma membrane to mediate spindle positioning
C) They help elongate the spindle during anaphase by sliding apart
D) They form the cleavage furrow

Answer 18

C) They help elongate the spindle during anaphase by sliding apart

Question 19

Which of the following describes a diploid cell?

A) A cell with one complete set of chromosomes
B) A cell that has undergone cytokinesis
C) A cell with two sets of chromosomes
D) A cell with replicated

Answer 19

C) A cell with two sets of chromosomes

Question 20

How do prokaryotic cells divide?

A) Mitosis
B) Binary fission
C) Meiosis
D) Budding

Answer 20

B) Binary fission

Question 21

During which phase do the centrosomes migrate to opposite poles of the cell?

A) Prophase
B) Metaphase
C) Telophase
D) Anaphase

Answer 21

A) Prophase

Question 22

What is the function of the contractile ring during cytokinesis in animal cells?

A) It forms spindle fibers
B) It pinches the cell membrane to separate daughter cells
C) It holds sister chromatids together
D) It aligns chromosomes at the metaphase plate

Answer 22

B) It pinches the cell membrane to separate daughter cells

Question 23

What is the constricted region of a chromosome that links sister chromatids called?

A) Kinetochore
B) Centromere
C) Centrosome
D) Cleavage furrow

Answer 23

B) Centromere

Question 24

In plants, how does cytokinesis occur differently from animals?

A) It starts from the outside and moves inward
B) It forms a contractile ring of microfilaments
C) Vesicles fuse to form a cell plate between daughter nuclei
D) It involves kinetochore microtubules pulling the membrane apart

Answer 24

C) Vesicles fuse to form a cell plate between daughter nuclei

Question 25

Which of the following statements best distinguishes homologous chromosomes from
sister chromatids?

o A) Homologous chromosomes are identical copies of each other, while sister
chromatids are non-identical copies of the same chromosome.
o B) Homologous chromosomes carry the same genes but may have different alleles,
while sister chromatids are identical copies of the same chromosome produced during
DNA replication.
o C) Homologous chromosomes are formed after DNA replication, while sister
chromatids exist independently of replication.
o D) Homologous chromosomes are found only in haploid cells, while sister chromatids
are found in both diploid and haploid cells.

Answer 25

o B) Homologous chromosomes carry the same genes but may have different alleles,
while sister chromatids are identical copies of the same chromosome produced during
DNA replication.