Answers to end-of-chapter questions

5 Cell and nuclear division

1 D
2 B
3 D
4 a i

haploid (cell or organism) has one set of

chromosomes;
diploid has two sets of chromosomes;
ii centromere is region of a chromosome that
holds two chromatids together;
centriole is an organelle;
found (in pairs) just outside nucleus;
microtubule organising centres/starting points
for growing microtubules (for spindle);
b i a non-sex chromosome;
ii a pair of chromosomes that have the same
structure;
same genes;
pair up during meiosis (forming a bivalent);
found in diploid cells;
5 a A anaphase; B prophase; C metaphase;
b Information for this answer can be found in
Figure 5.10 on page 92 in the Coursebook.

Exam-style questions
Notes about mark schemes
A or accept indicates an alternative acceptable answer.
R = reject. This indicates a possible answer that should
be rejected.
; The bold semi-colon indicates the award of 1 mark.
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mark. The alternatives may be separated from the rest
of the answer by commas.
( ) Text in brackets is not required for the mark.
Underlining This is used to indicate essential word(s)
that must be used to get the mark.
AW means alternative wording. It is used to indicate
that a different wording is acceptable provided the
essential meaning is the same, and is used where
students responses are likely to vary more than usual.

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AVP means additional valid point. This means

accept any additional points given by the student
that are not in the mark scheme, provided they are
relevant. But accept only as many additional points
as indicated by the bold semi-colons, e.g. AVP;;
means award a maximum of 2 extra marks.
ORA means or reverse argument and is used when
the same idea could be expressed in the reverse way.
For example: activity increases between pH 2 and
pH 5 ORA means accept activity decreases between
pH 5 and pH 2.
max This indicates the maximum number of marks
that can be given.

Answers to end-of-chapter questions: Chapter 5

11

6 a mitosis label added to one of the growth arrows

or to the arrow between gamete-producing stage
and gametes;
[1]
b meiosis label added to arrow between sporeproducing stage and unicellular spores;
[1]
c gamete-producing stage is haploid and sporeproducing stage is diploid;
chromosome number would double every
generation if no meiosis;
because life cycle includes sexual reproduction;
haploid gametes fuse to form diploid zygote/when
gametes fuse chromosome number, doubles/
changes, from one set to two sets/gametes must
be haploid and there is a diploid stage in the life
cycle;
[max. 3]
d i metaphase;
[1]
ii haploid;
if it were diploid there would be, four pairs of
chromatids/two long pairs of chromatids and
two short pairs of chromatids, lined up on the
equator;
chromosomes are lined up separately/not
paired in homologous pairs as they would be
in meiosis;
[3]
iii prophase drawing shows two single
chromosomes, each with a centromere (not
paired chromatids), randomly distributed,
surrounded by cell surface membrane but
with no spindle;
[1]
e a long and a short chromatid, each with a
centromere, are shown inside each new
nucleus;
[1]
[Total: 11]
7 a microtubules are made out of tubulin molecules;
the tubulin molecules stick together in a
particular pattern to form the microtubules,
so the presence of colchicine would interfere
with this; AW
[2]

22

Answers to end-of-chapter questions: Chapter 5

b spindle;
centrioles;
[2]
c (held up in) prophase;
spindle cannot form (due to presence of
colchicine);
so metaphase cannot occur;
metaphase, normally follows prophase/is next
stage of mitosis;
[max. 3]
[Total: 7]
8 a one long, one short and one hooked chromosome
present inside a circle (nucleus);
[1]
b meiosis;
[1]
c six chromatids about half way between equator
and each pole (12 chromatids in all);
two long, two short, two hooked in each
direction;
centromere leading for each chromatid;
[3]
d in diagram 2, shading represent sets of
chromosomes/one type of shading represents
set of chromosomes from mother, other type
of shading represents set of chromosomes from
father; AW
in diagram 3, shading represent homologous
pairs of chromosomes/differently numbered
chromosomes; AW
[2]
e only chromosomes drawn (no nuclear envelope);
three separate homologous pairs drawn side by
side;
pairs arranged in order of size, starting with
largest;
[3]
[Total: 10]
9 a body cells 46;
sperm and egg 23;
zygote 46;
[3]
b mitosis;
[1]
[Total: 4]

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