(Class – XI)

Question 1:
What is the average cell cycle span for a mammalian cell?
Answer 1:
The average cell cycle span for a mammalian cell is approximately 24 hours.

Question 2:
Distinguish cytokinesis from karyokinesis.
Answer 2:

Cytokinesis Karyokinesis
(i) Cytokinesis is the biological (i) Karyokinesis is the biological
process involving the division of a process involving the division of a
cell’s cytoplasm during mitosis or cell’s nucleus during mitosis or
meiosis. meiosis.

(ii) It is divided into four stages – (ii) Stages such as prophase,

prophase, metaphase, anaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and
and telophase. telophase are not present in
karyokinesis.

Question 3:
Describe the events taking place during interphase.
Answer 3:
Interphase involves a series of changes that prepare a cell for division. It is the period
during which the cell experiences growth and DNA replication in an orderly manner.
Interphase is divided into three phases.
 G1 phase
 S phase
 G2 phase
G1 phase – It is the stage during which the cell grows and prepares its DNA for
replication. In this phase, the cell is metabolically active.
S phase – It is the stage during which DNA synthesis occurs. In this phase, the amount
of DNA (per cell) doubles, but the chromosome number remains the same.
G2 phase – In this phase, the cell continues to grow and prepares itself for division.
The proteins and RNA required for mitosis are synthesised during this stage.

1
Question 4:
What is G0 (quiescent phase) of cell cycle?
Answer 4:
G0 or quiescent phase is the stage wherein cells remain metabolically active, but do not
proliferate unless called to do so. Such cells are used for replacing the cells lost during
injury.

Question 5:
Why is mitosis called equational division?
Answer 5:
Mitosis is the process of cell division wherein the chromosomes replicate and get equally
distributed into two daughter cells. The chromosome number in each daughter cell is
equal to that in the parent cell, i.e., diploid. Hence, mitosis is known as equational
division.

Question 6:
Name the stage of cell cycle at which one of the following events occur:
(i) Chromosomes are moved to spindle equator
(ii) Centromere splits and chromatids separate
(iii) Pairing between homologous chromosomes takes place
(iv) Crossing over between homologous chromosomes takes place
Answer 6:
(i) Metaphase
(ii) Anaphase
(iii) Zygotene of meiosis I
(iv) Pachytene of meiosis I

Question 7:
Describe the following:
(a) synapsis (b) bivalent (c) chiasmata
Draw a diagram to illustrate your answer.
Answer 7:
(a) Synapsis
The pairing of homologous chromosomes is called synapsis. This occurs during the
second stage of prophase I or zygotene.

2
(b) Bivalent
Bivalent or tetrad is a pair of synapsed homologous chromosomes. They are formed
during the zygotene stage of prophase I of meiosis.

(c) Chiasmata
Chiasmata is the site where two sister chromatids have crossed over. It represents the
site of cross-over. It is formed during the diplotene stage of prophase I of meiosis.

Question 8:
How does cytokinesis in plant cells differ from that in animal cells?
Answer 8:
Cytokinesis in plant cells Cytokinesis is animal cells
(i) The division of the cytoplasm takes (i) The division of the cytoplasm takes
place by cell plate formation. place by cleavage.

(ii) Cell plate formation starts at the (ii) Cleavage starts at the periphery
centre of the cell and grows outward, and then moves inward, dividing
toward the lateral walls. the cell into two parts.

3
Question 9:
Find examples where the four daughter cells from meiosis are equal in size and where
they are found unequal in size.
Answer 9:
(a) Spermatogenesis or the formation of sperms in human beings occurs by the process
of meiosis. It results in the formation of four equal-sized daughter cells.
(b) Oogenesis or the formation of ovum in human beings occurs by the process of
meiosis. It results in the formation of four daughter cells which are unequal in size.

Question 10:
Distinguish anaphase of mitosis from anaphase I of meiosis.
Answer 10:
Anaphase of mitosis Anaphase I of meiosis
Anaphase is the stage during which During anaphase I, the homologous
the centromere splits and the
chromosomes separate, while the
chromatids separate. The
chromosomes move apart, toward chromatids remain attached at their
the opposite poles. These
centromeres.
chromosomes are genetically
identical. Hence, in anaphase I, the chromosomes of
each bivalent pair separate, while the sister
chromatids remain together.

4
Question 11:
List the main differences between mitosis and meiosis.
Answer 11:

Mitosis Meiosis
1. In mitotic division, a single division 1. Meiotic division involves two successive
results in two daughter cells. divisions – meiosis I and meiosis II.
These divisions result in four daughter
cells.

2. Mitosis is known as equational 2. Meiosis I is known as reductional

division. This is because the
division. This is because the
daughter cells have the same
diploid number of chromosomes as chromosome number is reduced to half.
the parent.
Meiosis II is known as equational
division. This is because the sister
chromatids separate and the
chromosome number remains the
same.
3. Prophase is short and does not 3. Prophase I is very long and comprises 5
comprise any phase. phases –leptotene, zygotene,
pachytene, diplotene, and diakinesis.

4. There is no pairing of 4. In the zygotene stage of prophase, the

chromosomes, crossing-over, or pairing of chromosomes occurs. During
chiasmata-formation during pachytene, the crossing-over occurs.
prophase. The chiasmata are formed in the
diplotene stage.

5. Synaptonemal complex is not 5. Synaptonemal complex is formed during

formed.
the zygotene stage of prophase I.

6. Anaphase involves the separation 6. During anaphase I, the homologous

of the chromatids of each
chromosomes separate, while the
chromosome.
chromatids remain attached at their
centromeres.
During anaphase II, the chromatids
separate as a result of the splitting of
the centromere.

7. Mitosis plays a significant role in 7. Meiosis brings about variation and

the healing, repair, and growth of a maintains the chromosome number
cell. from generation to generation.

5
Question 12:
What is the significance of meiosis?
Answer 12:
Meiosis is the process involving the reduction in the amount of genetic material. It
comprises two successive nuclear and cell divisions, with a single cycle of DNA
replication. As a result, at the end of meiosis II, four haploid cells are formed.
Significance of meiosis
 Meiosis maintains the chromosome number from generation to generation. It
reduces the chromosome number to half so that the process of fertilisation restores the
original number in the zygote.
 Variations are caused by the cross-over and the random distribution of
homologous chromosomes between daughter cells. Variations play an important role in
evolution.
 Chromosomal mutations are brought about by the introduction of certain
abnormalities. These chromosomal mutations may be advantageous for an individual.

Question 13:
Discuss with your teacher about
(i) haploid insects and lower plants where cell-division occurs, and
(ii) some haploid cells in higher plants where cell-division does not occur.
Answer 13:
(i) In some insects and lower plants, fertilization is immediately followed by zygotic
meiosis, which leads to the production of haploid organisms. This type of life cycle is
known as haplontic life cycle.
(ii) The phenomenon of polyploidy can be observed in some haploid cells in higher
plants in which cell division does not occur. Polyploidy is a state in which cells contain
multiple pairs of chromosomes than the basic set. Polyploidy can be artificially induced
in plants by applying colichine to cell culture.

Question 14:
Can there be mitosis without DNA replication in S phase?
Answer 14:
Mitotic cell division cannot take place without DNA replication in S phase. Two important
events take place during S phase – one is the synthesis or duplication of DNA and the
other is the duplication of the centriole. DNA duplication is important as it maintains the
chromosome number in the daughter cells. Mitosis is an equational division. Therefore,
the duplication of DNA is an important step.

6
Question 15:
Can there be DNA replication without cell division?
Answer 15:
There can be DNA replication without cell division. During cell division, the parent cell
gets divided into two daughter cells. However, if there is a repeated replication of DNA
without any cell division, then this DNA will keep accumulating inside the cell. This would
increase the volume of the cell nucleus, thereby causing cell expansion. An example of
DNA duplication without cell division is commonly observed in the salivary glands of
Drosophila. The chromosome undergoing repeated DNA duplication is known as polytene
chromosome.

Question 16:
Analyse the events during every stage of cell cycle and notice how the following two
parameters change
(i) Number of chromosomes (N) per cell
(ii) Amount of DNA content (C) per cell
Answer 16:
During meiosis, the number of chromosomes and the amount of DNA in a cell change.
(i) Number of chromosomes (N) per cell
During anaphase I of the meiotic cycle, the homologous chromosomes separate and start
moving toward their respective poles. As a result, the bivalents get divided into two sister
chromatids and receive half the chromosomes present in the parent cell.

Therefore, the number of chromosomes reduces in anaphase I.

(ii) Amount of DNA content (C) per cell
During anaphase II of the meiotic cycle, the chromatids separate as a result of the
splitting of the centromere. It is the centromere that holds together the sister chromatids
of each chromosome. As a result, the chromatids move toward their respective poles.
Therefore, at each pole, a haploid number of chromosomes and a haploid amount of DNA
are present.
During mitosis, the number of chromosomes remains the same. The DNA duplicated in
the S phase gets separated in the two daughter cells during anaphase. As a result, the
DNA content (C) of the two newly-formed daughter cells remains the same.