GHAZIABAD

CHAPTER 10
CELL AND CELL DIVISION
NCERT QUESTIONS
Mind Map:

NCERT QUESTIONS :
1. What is the average cell cycle span for a mammalian cell?
Ans: 24 hours.

2. Distinguish cytokinesis from karyokinesis.

Ans: Differences between cytokinesis and karyokinesis are:
3. Describe the events taking place during the interphase.
Ans: The interphase, though called the resting phase, is metabolically quite active. It is the time
during which the cell prepares itself for division by undergoing both cell growth and DNA
replication in an orderly manner. The interphase is further divided into three phases:
• G1 (Gap 1) phase
• S (Synthesis) phase
• G2 (Gap 2) phase
G1 phase corresponds to the interval between mitosis of previous cell cycle and initiation of DNA
replication. During G1 phase the cell is metabolically active and grows continuously but does not
replicate its DNA S or synthesis phase marks the period during which DNA synthesis or
replication takes place. During this time the amount of DNA doubles per cell. In animal cells,
during the S phase, DNA replication occurs in the nucleus, and the centriole duplicates in the
cytoplasm. During the G2 phase synthesis of DNA stops while cell growth continues with
synthesis of protein and RNA in preparation for mitosis.

4. What is G0 (quiescent phase) of a cell cycle?

Ans: G0 phase is the phase of inactivation of cell cycle due to non-availability of mitogens and
energy rich compounds. Cells in this stage remain metabolically active but no longer proliferate
i.e., do not grow or differentiate unless called on to do so depending on the requirement of the
organism. E.g., Nerve and heart cells of chordates are in permanent G0 phase.

5. Why is mitosis called equational division?

Ans: Mitosis is a type of cell division in which chromosomes replicate and become equally
distributed in two daughter nuclei so that the daughter cells come to have the same number and
type of chromosomes as present in the parent cell. So mitosis is called equational division.
6. Name the stage of cell cycle at which each one of the following events occur:
(i) Chromosomes are moved to the spindle equator. Metaphase

(ii) Centromere splits and chromatids separate. Anaphase

(iii) Pairing between homologous chromosomes takes place. Zygotene of prophase I of meiosis 1

(iv) Crossing over between homologous chromosomes takes place. Pachytene of prophase I of
meiosis I

7. Describe the following:

(a) Synapsis
(b) Bivalent
(c) Chiasmata
Draw a diagram to illustrate your answer.
Ans:
(a) Synapsis: During zygotene of prophase I stage homologous chromosomes start pairing
together and this process of association is called synapsis. Electron micrographs of this stage
indicate that chromosome synapsis is accompanied by the formation of a complex structure
called synaptonemal complex.
(b) Bivalent: The complex formed by a pair of synapsed homologous chromosomes is called a
bivalent or a tetrad i.e., 4 chromatids or a pair of chromosomes.

(c) Chiasmata: The beginning of diplotene is recognized by the dissolution of the synaptonemal
complex and the tendency of the synapsed homologous chromosomes of the bivalents to
separate from each other except at the sites of crossovers. These points of attachment
(X-shaped structures) between the homologous chromosomes are called chiasmata.

8. How does cytokinesis in plant cells differ from that in animal cells?
Ans: Plant cytokinesis and animal cytokinesis differ in following respects:
9. Find examples where the four daughter cells from meiosis are equal in size and where they are
found unequal in size.
Ans: During formation of male gametes (i.e., spermatozoa) in a typical mammal (i.e., human
being), the four daughter cells formed from meiosis are equal in size. On the other hand, during
formation of female gamete (i.e., ovum) in a typical mammal (i.e., human being), the four
daughter cells are unequal in size.

10. Can there be DNA replication without cell division?

Ans: Yes.

Endomitosis is the multiplication of chromosomes present in a set in the nucleus without

karyokinesis and cytokinesis result-ing in numerous copies within each cell. It is of 2 types.
Polyteny: Here chromosomes divide and redivide without separation of chromatids so that such
chromosomes become multi stranded with many copies of DNA. Such polytene (many stranded)
chromosomes remain in permanent prophase stage and do not undergo cell cycle e.g., polytene
(salivary glands) chromosome of Drosophila has 512- 1024 chromatids. Here the number of sets
of chromosomes does not change.
Polyploidy (endoduplication) : Here all chromosomes in a set divide and its chromatids separate
but the nucleus does not divide. This results in an increase in the number of sets of
chromosomes in the nucleus (4x, 8x….). This increase in sets of chromosomes is called
polyploidy. It can be induced by colchicine and granosan. These chromosomes are normal and
undergo cell cycle.

11. List the main differences between mitosis and meiosis.

Ans:

12. Distinguish anaphase of mitosis from anaphase I of meiosis.

Ans: Anaphase of mitosis : It is the phase of shortest duration. APC (anaphase promoting
complex) develops. It degenerates proteins -binding the two chromatids in the region of
centromere. As a result, the centromere of each chromosome divides. This converts the two
chromatids into daughter chromosomes each being attached to the spindle pole of its side by
independent chromosomal fibre. The chromosomes move towards the spindle poles with the
centromeres projecting towards the poles and the limbs trailing behind. There is corresponding
shortening of chromosome fibres. The two pole-ward moving chromosomes of each type remain
attached to each other by interzonal fibres. Ultimately, two groups of chromosomes come to lie at
the spindle poles.
Anaphase I of meiosis : Chiasmata disappear completely and the homologous chromosomes
separate. The process is called disjunction. The separated chromosomes (univalents) show
divergent chromatids and are called dyads. They move towards the spindle poles and ultimately
form two groups of haploid chromosomes.

13. What is the significance of meiosis?

Ans: The significance of meiosis is given below:
(i) Formation of gametes – Meiosis forms gametes that are essential for sexual reproduction.
(ii) Genetic information – It switches on the genetic information for the development of gametes
or gametophytes and switches off the sporophytic information. ‘
(iii) Maintenance of chromosome number – Meiosis maintains the fixed number of chromosomes
in sexually reproducing organisms by halving the same. It is essential since the chromosome
number becomes double after fertilisation.
(iv) Assortment of chromosomes – In meiosis paternal and maternal chromosomes assort
independently. It causes reshuffling of chromosomes and the traits controlled by them. The
variations help the breeders in improving the races of useful plants and animals.
(v) Crossing over – It introduces new combinations of traits or variations.
(vi) Mutations – Chromosomal and genomic mutations can take place by irregularities of meiotic
divisions. Some of these mutations are useful to the organism and are perpetuated by natural
selection.
(vii) Evidence of basic relationship of organisms – Details of meiosis are essentially similar in the
majority of organisms showing their basic similarity and relationship.

14. 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.
Ans:
(i) Cell division occurs in haploid insects, such as drones of honey bees and lower plants like
gametophytes of algae, bryophytes, and pteridophytes.
(ii) Synergids and antipodals in the embryo sac of the ovule are haploid cells where cell division
does not occur.

15. Can there be mitosis without DNA replication in S-phase?

Ans: No, there cannot be any mitotic division without-DNA replication in the ‘S’ phase.

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
Ans: Number of chromosomes and amount of DNA change during S-phase and anaphase of cell
cycle. S or synthesis phase marks the period during which DNA synthesis or replication takes
place. During this time the amount of DNA per cell doubles. If the initial amount of DNA is
denoted as 2C then it increases to 4C. However, there is no increase in the chromosome number;
if the cell had diploid or 2N number of chromosomes at G„ even after S phase the number of
chromosomes remains the same, i.e., 2N.
In mitotic anaphase, the number of chromosomes remains the same. It is only sister chromatids
which move towards their respective poles. DNA content remains unchanged. In anaphase I of
meiosis, the number of chromosomes are reduced to half, i.e., from 2N to IN and also DNA
content decreases to one half i.e., from 4C to 2C. In anaphase II of meiosis II DNA content
decreases to one half from 2C to 1C but chromosome number remains the same.