Cells - Mitosis

Question 1

What is mitosis? (1 mark)

Answer 1

Mitosis is a type of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell. (1 mark)

Question 2

List the stages of mitosis in the correct order. (2 marks)

Answer 2

Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase. (2 marks)

Question 3

Describe what happens during prophase. (2 marks)

Answer 3

• Chromosomes condense and become visible. (1 mark)
• The nuclear envelope breaks down, and spindle fibers begin to form. (1 mark)

Question 4

What happens during metaphase? (2 marks)

Answer 4

• Chromosomes line up along the equator of the cell. (1 mark)
• Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of chromosomes. (1 mark)

Question 5

Explain what occurs during anaphase. (2 marks)

Answer 5

• The centromeres split, and sister chromatids are pulled apart. (1 mark)
• The spindle fibers pull the chromatids to opposite poles of the cell.

Question 6

What happens during telophase?

Answer 6

Chromosomes decondense into chromatin. (1 mark)
The nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromosomes. (1 mark)

Question 7

Describe the role of spindle fibers in mitosis. (2 marks)

Answer 7

• Spindle fibers attach to centromeres of chromosomes. (1 mark)
• They pull sister chromatids apart to opposite poles of the cell during anaphase. (1 mark)

Question 8

How does mitosis ensure genetic consistency in daughter cells? (2 marks)

Answer 8

• Each chromosome is duplicated before division. (1 mark)
• Identical sister chromatids are separated equally into two daughter cells. (1 mark)

Question 9

How could you calculate the mitotic index from a sample of cells? (2 marks)

Answer 9

Mitotic Index = (Number of cells in mitosis / Total number of cells) × 100 (2 marks)