Topic One_ Track Learning Assessment

MCQ

1. The graph below shows the movements that take place within a cell during mitosis. The 3
curves show changes in the distance between the centromere and the poles of the
spindle(A), the centromeres of sister chromatids (B) and the poles of the spindle (C)
respectively. With reference to the graph, which of the following statement is false?

A. The centromere of each chromosome divides at the 15 minutes mark.

B. The force-balance model resulted in the changes in distance observed between 0 to
15 minutes.
C. The two main stages of mitosis whereby these movements occur are anaphase and
telophase.
D. From 15 minutes onwards, kinetochore microtubules begin to shorten.
E. From 20 minutes onwards, aster microtubules attached to the cell membrane pulls
the poles of the spindle apart.

2. The process of meiosis produces four cells with non-identical chromosomes. This
diversification occurs during:

A. telophase I
B. prophase I
C. metaphase II
D. prophase II
E. interphase
A. Telophase I

3. If a diploid organism has 5 chromosomes per set, how many different combinations of
homologous chromosomes are possible at their gametes?

A. 25
B. 52
C. 54
D. 5
E. 10
4. Which of the following represents the correct order of events during prophase I?

A. pachytene – diplotene – diakinesis – leptotene – zygotene

B. leptotene – zygotene – pachytene – diplotene – diakinesis
C. zygotene – leptotne – pachytene – diakinesis – diplotene
D. diplotene – pachytene – leptotene – diakinesis – zygotene
E. diplotene – pachytene – zygotene – leptotene – diakinesis

5. The amount of DNA per nucleus was measured on several hundred cells from the tip of
the root of a plant. The amount of DNA ranged from 10 to 20 picograms (pg). If a
nucleus was measured containing 20pg of DNA, which stage is the cell in?

A. G1
B. G2
C. G0
D. telophase
E. Cytokinesis

6. Which of the following is a hallmark event that characterizes prophase of mitosis?

I. Initial formation of spindle fibers

II. Condensation of chromosomes
III. Movement of chromosomes to the equatorial plane of the cell

A. I
B. II
C. III
D. I and II
E. II and III

7. Which of the following is a reason why the daughter cells that result from the process of
meiosis are not genetically identical to the parent cells?

I. Crossing over
II. Each homologous chromosome in a pair is inherited from a different parent (i.e. one
from mom and one from dad)
III. Each homologue randomly aligns along the metaphase plate

A. I
B. II
C. III
D. II and III only
E. All of these
8. In Drosophila virilis, nuclei of somatic cells contain 12 chromosomes while nuclei of
sperm cells contain only 6 chromosomes. What does "n" equal for this species?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 12
D. 24
E. 6 or 12, depending on cell type

9. While the meiosis and mitosis looks similar, there are a few major differences. Which of
the following are TRUE?

I. DNA replicates once before mitosis, while DNA replicates twice before meiosis.
II. Mitosis results in two diploid daughter cells, while meiosis results in 4 haploid cells
III. Synapses and crossover happen in meiotic prophase I only, but do not happen in
prophase of mitosis.
IV. A pair of sister chromatids is attached to only one pole of spindle apparatus in
prometaphase I but a pair of sister chromatids is attached to kinetochore fibers
originated from opposite poles in mitosis.

A. I and IV
B. II and III
C. I, II and III
D. II, III and IV
E. I, II, III and IV

10. A synaptonemal complex is formed between homologous chromosomes during the

zygotene stage of Meiosis I. The complex is made up of parallel lateral elements bound to
the chromosomal DNA and a central element which promotes binding of the lateral
elements to each other via transverse filaments. Which of the following statements is/are
true with regards to the synaptonemal complex?

I. The synaptonemal complex is required for the pairing of homologous chromosomes

(synapsis).
II. The synaptonemal complex could help to maintain homologous pairing.
III. The synaptonemal complex may serve a role in regulating the process of crossing
over.

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II
D. II and III,
E. I, II, and III
Open-ended/ structured questions/Essay

1. Explain the differences between prophase of mitosis and prophase I of meiosis.

2. Both sexual and nonsexual life cycles produce genetic variations among offspring, what
are the unique mechanisms which contribute to the genetic variation in the sexual
reproduction only?
Answer Key for Topic 1

MCQ: 1. C, 2. B, 3. A, 4.B, 5. B, 6. D, 7. E, 8. B, 9. D. 10. D.

Hints for MCQ

MCQ1
A: True. At 15 minutes, the distance between the centromeres of the sister chromatids is 0 μm but
subsequently after that the distance begins to increase which indicates that anaphase is occurring thus
the centromere of the chromosome divides and sister chromatids separate becoming chromosomes.
B: True. Between 0 to 15 minutes, the poles move slightly closer together as seen by the decrease in
distance between the pole of the spindle from 45 to 40 μm. This is due to the force-balance model
where the poles of the spindle are pulled towards the equator initially as the chromosomes begin to
align themselves in a single row along the metaphase plate.
C: False. The two main stages of mitosis whereby these movements occur are actually metaphase and
anaphase.
D: True. From 15 minutes onwards, the centromere of the chromosome has already divided and thus
the sister chromatids which have now become chromosomes move apart towards opposite poles when
the kinetochore microtubules shortens. This can be seen by the decrease in distance between the
centromere and poles of the spindle from 20 to about 2 μm.
E: True. Between 20 to 30 minutes, the two opposite poles move further away from each other as seen
by the increase in distance between the poles of the spindle from 40 to 50 μm which is due to a pulling
force that acts directly on the poles to move them apart.

MCQ 3:
It is 2^3, equals 8. It is about alignment of pairs of homologous chromosomes at the metaphase plate
(also refer to 'independent assortment'). If an organism has the "n" chromosomes per set (i.e. number
of chromosomes in a gamete). The possible number of different, random alignments equals 2^n. In
human, this would be equal 2^23, or over 8 million possibilities. You can also refer to the textbook P56
(4th edition), metaphase of meiosis I. It is explained in detail.

MCQ10
The synaptonemal complex may not be required for the pairing of homologous chromosomes,
because some species, such as Aspergillus nidulansand and Schizosaccharomyces pombe,
completely lack such a complex, yet their chromosomes synapse correctly

Open-ended/ structured questions/Essay:

1.) In prophase I of meiosis the homologous chromosomes pair and crossing over occurs.
These interactions do not occur in prophase of mitosis.

2.) (key information required)

i. Crossing over between homologous chromosomes during prophase I.
ii. Independent assortment of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I and of
nonidentical sister chromatids during meiosis II.
iii. Random fertilization of an ovum by a sperm.