St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

Q1.

(a)

In which phase of the cell cycle does DNA replication take place?

......................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

The diagrams show five stages of mitosis.

List the stages A to E in the correct sequence, beginning with the earliest stage.
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.....................

.....................

.....................
(1)

(c)

Describe the role of the spindle during mitosis.

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......................................................................................................................
(2)

(d)

Meiosis also occurs during the life cycle of organisms. What is the importance of
meiosis?
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......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

Q2.

(a)

(i)

The drawing shows a stage of mitosis in an animal cell.

Name this stage of mitosis.

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Describe and explain what happens during this stage which ensures that two
genetically identical cells are produced.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

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The graph shows the relative amounts of DNA per cell during two successive cell
divisions in an animal.

St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

(i)

What stage of the cell cycle is shown by X?

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Apart from an increase in the amount of DNA, give one process which occurs
during stage X which enables nuclear division to occur.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(iii)

How many units of DNA would you expect to be present in a gamete formed in
this animal as a result of meiosis?
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Stage

The table shows the average duration of each stage of the cell cycle in the cells of a
mammalian embryo.
Mean duration/
minutes

Interphase

12

Prophase

50

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Metaphase

15

Anaphase

10

Telophase

42

Give one piece of evidence from the table which indicates that these cells are
multiplying rapidly.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q3.

(a)

The photographs show two stages in mitosis of a plant cell.

Name stages A and B. In each case describe what is happening to the

chromosomes.
(i)

Stage A ....................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

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Stage B ....................................

St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

Describe two events during interphase which prepare a cell for mitosis.
1 ...................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
2 ...................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q4.

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The diagrams show four stages of mitosis.

St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

(a)

(i)

Name stage A.
.........................................................
(1)

(ii)

Starting with stage C, give the stages A to D in the correct order.

C ............ ............. .............
(1)

(iii)

Describe and explain the appearance of one of the chromosomes in stage B.

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.............................................................................................................
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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

.............................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

Colchicine is a substance that prevents the formation of the spindle in mitosis.

Dividing cells were treated with colchicine. This stopped them dividing. After a few
hours, the colchicine was removed and the cells began to divide again. The diagram
shows the chromosomes from one of the treated cells at stage B after the cell began
dividing again.

(i)

What has happened to the chromosome number?

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Suggest an explanation for the change in the chromosome number.

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Q5.

Yeast is a single-celled eukaryotic organism. When yeast cells are grown, each cell
forms a bud. This bud grows into a new cell. This allows yeast to multiply because the
parent cell is still alive and the new cell has been formed.
Scientists grew yeast cells in a culture. They counted the number of cells present and
measured the total concentration of DNA in the culture over a period of 6 hours. Their

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

results are shown in the graph.

(a)

Use your knowledge of the cell cycle to explain the shape of the curve for the
number of yeast cells
(i)

between 1 and 2 hours

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

between 3 and 4 hours.

.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Use the curve for the concentration of DNA to find the length of a cell cycle in these
yeast cells. Explain how you arrived at your answer.
Length of cell cycle ......................................................................................
Explanation ..................................................................................................
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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q6.

The diagram shows a cell cycle.

(a)

The table shows the number of chromosomes and the mass of DNA in different
nuclei.
All the nuclei come from the same animal. Complete this table.
Nucleus

At prophase of mitosis

Number of chromosomes Mass of DNA / arbitrary units

26

60

At telophase of mitosis
From a sperm cell
(4)

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

(b)

If the DNA of the cell is damaged, a protein called p53 stops the cell cycle.
Mutation in the gene for p53 could cause cancer to develop. Explain how.
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......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(3)

(c)

Drugs are used to treat cancer. At what phase in the cell cycle would each of the
following drugs act?
(i)

A drug that prevents DNA replication

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

A drug that prevents spindle fibres shortening

.............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

M1.

(a)

Interphase / S-phase;
1

(b)

A D C E B;
1

(c)

Attachment of centromeres / chromosomes / chromatids; Separation of

centromeres / chromatids / chromosomes;
2

(d)

Halves chromosome number / haploid;

Diploid / full number restored at fertilisation;
Allow correct reference to variation
max 2

[6]

M2.

(a)

(i)

anaphase;
1

(ii)

sister / identical chromatids (separate);

move to opposite poles / ends / sides;
2

(b)

(i)

interphase;
1

(ii)

ATP production / protein synthesis / replication of centrioles;

1

(iii)

1.2;
1

(c)

short duration of interphase;

1

[7]

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

M3.

(a)

(i)

prophase;
chromosomes thickening / becoming visible;
2

(ii)

anaphase;
chromatids / chromosomes moving to opposite poles /
ends of spindles;
2

(b)

DNA replication;
synthesis or proteins / build-up of energy stores / growth /
increase in cytoplasm;
replication of organelles / named example;
2 max

[6]

M4.

(a)

(i)

A anaphase;
1

(ii)

(C) B,A,D;
1

(iii)

(original) chromosome / DNA has been replicated;

each chromosome consists of two chromatids /
chromatids attached at centromere;
(accept reference to condensed state of chromosomes)
2

(b)

(i)

it has doubled / now 8;

1

(ii)

chromosome / DNA replication but no separation

/ anaphase / cell division;
1

[6]

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St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College

M5.

(a)

(i)

Cells are in interphase;

Accept G phase / S phase.
1

(ii)

Cells undergoing mitosis / in telophase / cytokinesis;

Accept all named stages but reject prophase, metaphase or
anaphase on their own.
1

(b)

1.

3 hours;

2.

Time between beginnings / endings DNA replication / Increases /

levelling outs of DNA concentration / for shape (of curve for replication)
to be repeated;

3.

(DNA) replication takes place once per cell cycle;

Allow close approximation where candidate attempts to be
more accurate.
Principle
What is shown on the graph
3

[5]

M6.

(a)
Nucleus

Number of
chromosomes

Mass of DNA / arbitrary

units

At telophase of mitosis

26;

30;

From a sperm cell

13;

15;
4

(b)

Cancer cells often have faulty / damaged DNA;

Protein / p53 faulty / not made;
Cell (with faulty / DNA) divides / completes cell cycle;
Uncontrolled division produces cancer;
p53 refers to the protein so do not accept reference to p53
mutating.

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3

(c)

(i)

Interphase / S phase / synthesis phase;

1

(ii)

Anaphase / A;
1

[9]

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