GCSE Edexcel Biology Section 2- Cells
Exam Questions With Triple Checked
Answers
Give the stages of mitosis in order. - ANS1. Prophase
2. Metaphase
3. Anaphase
4. Telophase
5. Cytokinesis
What is the name of the stage in the cell cycle where the cell prepares to divide by mitosis? -
ANSInterphase
Why do multicellular organisms divide by mitosis? - ANS1. Growth
2. Repair (replace damaged cells)
How do certain organisms also use mitosis? - ANSFor reproduction (asexual) e.g. strawberry plants
form runners by mitosis, which become new plants.
What happens to the cell during interphase? - ANS1. Cell grows
2. Organelles are replicated
3. DNA replicates- chromosome copies remain attached, producing the X shape.
What happens during prophase? - ANS1. Chromosomes condense, getting shorter and fatter
2. Nuclear envelope breaks down so chromosomes lie free in the cytoplasm
What happens during metaphase? - ANSChromosomes line up along the equator of the cell on the
spindle fibres.
What happens during anaphase? - ANSThe spindle fibres pull the chromosomes apart; the identical
pairs of arms go to the poles of the cell.
, What happens during telophase? - ANSMembranes form around each of the sets of chromosomes;
these become the nuclei of the two new cells.
What happens during cytokinesis? - ANS1. Cytoplasm divides
2. Cell surface membrane forms to separate the cells
What is the product of mitosis? - ANSTwo genetically identical diploid cells that are also identical to
the parent cell.
What are the two stages of growth in animals? - ANS1. Cell division- mitosis
2. Cell differentiation- becoming specialised cells to do a specific job
What are the 3 stages of growth in plants? - ANS1. Cell division
2. Cell elongation- cells expand, becoming bigger and making the plant grow
3. Cell differentiation
What is the advantage of having more specialised cells? - ANSMulticellular organisms can work more
efficiently.
How does growth change with age in most animals? - ANSTend to grow while they're young so cells
divide at a fast rate but once they're an adult, growth ends and cells divide mainly for repair; in most
animals, cell differentiation is lost at an early stage.
How is growth different to animals in plants? - ANSGrowth in height is mainly due to cell elongation;
cell division usually only happens in the meristems; plants often grow continuously so cell
differentiation is not lost.
How is mitosis controlled? - ANSRate of cell division is controlled by the genes in organism's DNA.
How can mitosis lead to cancer? - ANSIf a mutation occurs in one of the genes controlling cell
division, cells may start to divide uncontrollably, creating a mass of abnormal cells called a tumour; if
the tumour invades and destroys surrounding tissue, it is called cancer.
Exam Questions With Triple Checked
Answers
Give the stages of mitosis in order. - ANS1. Prophase
2. Metaphase
3. Anaphase
4. Telophase
5. Cytokinesis
What is the name of the stage in the cell cycle where the cell prepares to divide by mitosis? -
ANSInterphase
Why do multicellular organisms divide by mitosis? - ANS1. Growth
2. Repair (replace damaged cells)
How do certain organisms also use mitosis? - ANSFor reproduction (asexual) e.g. strawberry plants
form runners by mitosis, which become new plants.
What happens to the cell during interphase? - ANS1. Cell grows
2. Organelles are replicated
3. DNA replicates- chromosome copies remain attached, producing the X shape.
What happens during prophase? - ANS1. Chromosomes condense, getting shorter and fatter
2. Nuclear envelope breaks down so chromosomes lie free in the cytoplasm
What happens during metaphase? - ANSChromosomes line up along the equator of the cell on the
spindle fibres.
What happens during anaphase? - ANSThe spindle fibres pull the chromosomes apart; the identical
pairs of arms go to the poles of the cell.
, What happens during telophase? - ANSMembranes form around each of the sets of chromosomes;
these become the nuclei of the two new cells.
What happens during cytokinesis? - ANS1. Cytoplasm divides
2. Cell surface membrane forms to separate the cells
What is the product of mitosis? - ANSTwo genetically identical diploid cells that are also identical to
the parent cell.
What are the two stages of growth in animals? - ANS1. Cell division- mitosis
2. Cell differentiation- becoming specialised cells to do a specific job
What are the 3 stages of growth in plants? - ANS1. Cell division
2. Cell elongation- cells expand, becoming bigger and making the plant grow
3. Cell differentiation
What is the advantage of having more specialised cells? - ANSMulticellular organisms can work more
efficiently.
How does growth change with age in most animals? - ANSTend to grow while they're young so cells
divide at a fast rate but once they're an adult, growth ends and cells divide mainly for repair; in most
animals, cell differentiation is lost at an early stage.
How is growth different to animals in plants? - ANSGrowth in height is mainly due to cell elongation;
cell division usually only happens in the meristems; plants often grow continuously so cell
differentiation is not lost.
How is mitosis controlled? - ANSRate of cell division is controlled by the genes in organism's DNA.
How can mitosis lead to cancer? - ANSIf a mutation occurs in one of the genes controlling cell
division, cells may start to divide uncontrollably, creating a mass of abnormal cells called a tumour; if
the tumour invades and destroys surrounding tissue, it is called cancer.
