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Discovering Biology 1A Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Cell Cycle and Division

Exercise (p. 157 161) Multiple Choice Questions 1. B The nuclei of all body cells normally contain a fixed number of chromosomes. Hence, all human body cells, including the human liver cells, have 46 chromosomes. 2. B The paired homologous chromosomes migrate towards the middle of the cell and become attached to the spindle fibres. This stage is known as metaphase I of meiosis. 3. B Phase A is the second growth phase (G2 phase) which comes after the S phase. 4. C At the beginning of mitotic cell division, the chromosomes replicate and double themselves. As a result, 52 chromosomes can be formed. 5. B At 15 minutes after the previous cell division, the distance between the chromatids of the chromosome starts to increase from 0, which means the chromosomes start to split into chromatids. At the same time, the distance between the chromosomes and the poles begins to decrease, which means that the chromatids begin to migrate towards the poles. 6. C Only choice C correctly represents the arrangement of the chromosomes at 10 minutes. 7. A Before mitosis, the chromosomes duplicate themselves. 8. D Egg cell contains a haploid number of chromosomes in the nucleus as it is a gamete resulted from meiotic cell division. 9. A Homologous chromosomes will be paired up in meiosis but not in mitosis. 10. D At the end of the first and second meiotic division, the daughter cell will have only half of the original number of chromosomes of the parent cell. At the end of the second meiotic division, the daughter cell will remain haploid. Short Questions 11.

12. (a) (b) (c) 13.

Meiotic cell division. Anther (or other acceptable answers). Testis (or other acceptable answers).
Mitotic cell division root tip/shoot tip (0.5) 2 (0.5) 20 (0.5) 20 (0.5) Meiotic cell division ovary/anther (0.5) 4 (0.5) 20 (0.5) 10 (0.5)

(2) (1) (1) (1)

Feature Site of division Number of daughter cells produced Chromosome number in each parent cell Chromosome number in each daughter cell

Structured Questions
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14. (a) (b)

(i) (ii) (iii) (i)

15. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

16. (a)

(b)

(c)

17. (a)

(b) (c)

20 chromosomes. (1) 40 chromosomes. (1) 20 chromosomes. (1) Vincristine prevents the formation of spindle fibres during mitosis. (1) Without spindle fibres, the chromatids in each chromosome cannot be pulled towards the opposite ends of the cell. (1) No daughter chromosomes can be formed. (1) The cancer cell therefore cannot divide to form new cancer cells. (1) (ii) Apart from affecting the cancer cells, vincristine will also affect other actively dividing body cells such as stem cells. (1) Vincristine can prevent the formation of spindle fibres in stem cells during mitosis. This prevents stem cells from carrying out mitotic cell division. (1) As a result, as old blood cells are constantly broken down and new blood cells cannot be produced, this leads to a low count of blood cells. (1) A, D, C, B. (2) Type of cell division mitotic cell division. (1) Site of occurrence shoot tip. (1) It provides new cells for the plant to grow. (1) Bone marrow and skin (or other acceptable answers). (1) In animal cells, at the end of mitosis, constriction across the middle of cytoplasm, (1) leading to the separation of cytoplasm into two equal halves. (1) In plant cells, after the completion of mitosis, cell walls will be formed across the middle of the parent cell, (1) leading to separation of cytoplasm into two equal halves. (1) (i) Mitotic cell division. (1) (ii) Two diploid daughter cells are formed. (1) Their number and kinds of chromosomes are identical to those in the parent cell. (1) (i) Each daughter cell contains the same number and kinds of chromosomes as the other daughter cell. (2) (ii) Each daughter cell contains the same number and kinds of chromosomes as the parent cell. (2) The nucleus of the pollen cell of couch grass contains only half of the chromosomes as the parent cell while the daughter cells shown in the diagram have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. (1) Chromosomes in the nucleus of pollen cell of couch grass may not be identical to each other and the parent cell while chromosomes from the daughter cells shown in the diagram are identical to each other and the parent cell. (1) (i) 46. (1) (ii) 23. (1) (iii) 23. (1) (iv) 46. (1) (v) 46. (1) Meiotic cell division. (1) Meiotic cell division produces haploid gametes, which contain only half the
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Discovering Biology 1A Chapter 5

(d) (e) 18. (a)

(b)

(c)

number of chromosomes of the body cells. (1) When male and female gametes fuse together to form zygote, the normal diploid number of chromosomes is restored. (1) Meiotic cell division is therefore important for a species to maintain a constant number of chromosomes in the offspring produced by sexual reproduction. (1) Ovary and testis. (2) Fertilisation. (1) X Mitosis. (1) It is because the amount of DNA of the daughter cells is just the same as parent cell at the end of cell division. (1) Y Meiosis. (1) It is because the DNA content is only half of the parent cell at the end of cell division. (1) A DNA replication is occurring in the nucleus. (1) B The nucleus divides into two daughter nuclei at the end of mitosis. (1) C The nucleus divides into two daughter nuclei during the first meiotic division. (1) D Fusion of two haploid nuclei during fertilisation produces a diploid nucleus. (1) At stage S diploid daughter cells (e.g. body cells). (1) At stage T haploid daughter cells (e.g. gametes). (1)

Essay-type Questions 19. Structure of chromosomes: Chromosomes are thread-like structures inside the cell nuclei. When a cell is not dividing, the chromosomes cannot be distinguished under the microscope as they extend into very fine threads. When a cell starts to divide, the chromosomes become much shorter and thicker. (1) They can then be seen under the microscope as darkly stained threads after treating with a special stain. The number of chromosomes in the body cells of organisms of the same species is always the same. The chromosomes in a cell always occur in pairs. The members of a pair of chromosomes are known as homologous chromosomes. Function of chromosomes: They carry genetic materials which determine the characteristics of the organism. 20. Similarities: Both processes result in the formation of daughter cells. Differences: Mitotic cell division will form two daughter cells while meiotic cell division will form four daughter cells. (1) Mitotic cell division involves one nuclear and cytoplasmic division while meiotic cell division involves two nuclear and cytoplasmic divisions. Pairing of homologous chromosomes is absent in mitotic cell division while pairing of homologous chromosomes is present in mitotic cell division. Number of chromosomes in daughter cells is the same as parent cell (diploid) in mitotic cell division while number of chromosomes in daughter cells is only half of the parent
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(1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)

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Discovering Biology 1A Chapter 5

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cell (haploid) in meiotic cell division. Genetic materials in daughter cells are identical to parent cell in mitotic cell division while genetic materials in daughter cells may not identical to parent cell in meiotic cell division. Mitotic cell division is important in growth, repair and asexual reproduction while meiotic cell division is important in the production of gametes for sexual reproduction. Mitotic cell division takes place at active growing regions in the body while meiotic cell division takes place at sex organs. Public Examination Questions (p. 162 165) Notes:

(1) (1) (1) (1)

Answers for the questions of HKCEE and HKALE are not available in this publication due to copyright restrictions.

Multiple Choice Questions 4. B As the chromosome pairs in the cell do not align in the middle of the cell, the cell is not in metaphase I. The cell is in prophase I and its diploid chromosome number is 6. Hence, the haploid number of chromosomes in this cell is 6/2 = 3. (IBO Biology, Higher Level, Paper 1, TZ1, May 2005, Q.30) Structured Questions 5. During prophase, chromosomes become shortened and thickened. They become visible under the microscope. Each of them is composed of two chromatids. (1) During metaphase, chromosomes arrange at the middle of the cell. (1) Each of them attaches to thread-like structures called the spindle fibres (1) During anaphase, the spindle fibres contract and pull the two chromatids in each chromosome towards the opposite ends of the cell. (1) Chromatids will reach their respective poles. Each chromatid is now called daughter chromosome. (1) Eventually, the daughter chromosomes gradually extend into tiny threads and become invisible. (1) (UCLES 06 A Level Bio. 9284/2 Nov. Q.9(b)) 8. (a) (1) During interphase, DNA replicates itself inside the nucleus. (1) This ensures that all the genetic information is retained during the replication process. (1) (2) During prophase, homologous chromosomes will not lie side by side of each other to form pairs. (1) This ensures that the chromosomes will not exchange their genetic materials at this stage. (1) (3) During anaphase, the two chromatids of the homologous chromosome will be pulled apart towards the opposite poles by spindle fibres. (1) As the DNA content of each chromatid is the same as its sister chromatid, this ensures that the daughter cells produced are identical in their genetic content. (1) (b) During metaphase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes arrange themselves randomly
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Discovering Biology 1A Chapter 5

9.

(a) (b)

(c)

in the middle of the cell. (2) Each homologous chromosomes are separated randomly and independently to the other pairs of homologous chromosomes. (2) Therefore, each of the gametes formed contain different combinations of genetic materials. This is known as independent assortment. (2) The fusion of gametes during fertilisation is also a random process. (1) It leads to different combinations of genetic materials in the zygote. (1) (UCLES 02 A Level Bio. 9284/2 Nov. Q.11(a)(b)) Telophase I. (2) After telophase I, the nuclear membrane disappears. (1) When the second meiotic division begins, each chromosome appears as a pair of chromatids. In metaphase II, chromosomes will line up in the middle of the cell and become attached to the spindle fibres. (1) The spindle fibres then contract and the chromatids are pulled to opposite ends of the cell in anaphase II. (1) At telophase II, each chromatid becomes a daughter chromosome. A nuclear membrane is formed around each group of chromosome. (1) The cytoplasm divides to form four haploid daughter cells, which may develop into gametes. (1) In metaphase I of meiosis, (1) the random distribution and independent assortment of homologous chromosomes in the middle of the cell (2) enable the chromosomes to be arranged in various combinations. As a result, new genetic variations can be obtained. (1) (UCLES 03 A Level Bio. 9284/4 Jun. Q.4) Haploid means a cell contains only one set of chromosomes, (0.5) which is half of the total number of chromosomes of the parent cells. (0.5) Diploid means a cell contains both sets of chromosomes, (0.5) in which the number of chromosomes is same as those in parent cells. (0.5) Cell A metaphase. (1) Cell B anaphase. (1) At the end of metaphase, spindle fibres contract, (1) causing the chromatids to separate from each other (1) and move towards the opposite ends of the cell. (1) At the end of prophase in mitosis, the nuclear envelope disintegrates. (0.5) The nuclear membrane remains disintegrated during metaphase and anaphase. (1) During telophase, nuclear envelope will form around each group of daughter chromatids, producing two daughter nuclei. (0.5) (UCLES 03 A Level Bio. 9284/2 Nov. Q.2(a)(i)(b)(c)(d))

10. (a)

(b) (c) (d)

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11. (a) (b)

(c)

12. (a)

(b)

(c)

The chromosomes in a body cell always occur in pairs. (1) The members of a pair of chromosomes are known as homologous chromosomes. (1) First meiotic division: During prophase I, the chromosomes replicate and become visible as long and coiled threads. These threads then become shortened and fattened. (1) Homologous chromosomes will lie side by side with each other to form pairs. Each chromosome appears as a pair of chromatids. (1) During metaphase I, the paired homologous chromosomes move towards the middle of the cell and become attached to the spindle fibres. (1) During anaphase I, each of the two members of the homologous chromosomes is separated and pulled apart through the contraction of spindle fibres towards the opposite poles of the cell. (1) During telophase I, the chromosomes reach poles and the chromatids begin to uncoil. (1) Second meiotic division: During metaphase II, the chromosomes in each of the two daughter cells line up in the middle of the cell. (1) During anaphase II, the spindle fibres contract. The pair chromatids separate from each other and move towards opposite ends of the cell. (1) During telophase II, the chromatids reach their respective poles and each chromatid becomes a daughter chromosome. (1) Meiotic cell division is a kind of cell division which produces four haploid daughter cells from one diploid parent cell. (1) When male and female gametes fuse together to from zygote, the normal diploid number of chromosomes is restored. (1) Meiotic cell division is very important for a species to maintain a constant number of chromosomes in the offspring produced by sexual reproduction. (2) Without the production of diploid gametes through meiosis, (1) a zygote possessing double the number of chromosomes as the parent will be resulted after fertilisation. (1) (UCLES 04 A Level Bio. 9284/2 Nov. Q.8) (i) Centromere. (1) (ii) It is the site at which the two chromatids are attached to each together in a chromosome. (1) It is also the site at which chromosomes become attached to the spindle fibres during nuclear division. (1) (i) Type of nuclear division meiosis. (0.5) Stage anaphase I. (0.5) (ii) Type of nuclear division mitosis. (0.5) Stage anaphase. (0.5) In Fig. 1, the paired chromosomes are moving away from each other while their sister chromatids of each chromosome are still attached to the centromere. (1) In Fig. 2, the centromere has split so that each chromatid from the separating chromosome is moving towards opposite poles of the dividing cell. (1) (UCLES 05 A Level Bio. 9284/2 Nov. Q.2(a)(b)(c))

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