Biology

Cell Cycle and Chromosomes

1,348 Questions

Explore a curated list of questions covering the cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis. Topics include DNA replication, chromosomal structures, and genetic disorders. This material is essential for students preparing for biology and general science competitive exams.

Cell cycle eventsDNA replicationMeiosis processChromosomal structuresGenetic disorders

Cell Cycle and Chromosomes Questions

Multiple choice

The salivary gland chromosomes in the diptera larvae, are useful in gene mapping because

  1. they have endoreduplicated chromosomes

  2. these are fused.

  3. these are easy to stain.

  4. these are much longer in size.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  Polytene Chromosomes (Salivary Chromosomes) were discovered by Balbiani (1881) in the salivary glands of Chironomus tantans. Later they were found in salivary glands of many insect larvae including Drosophila. Polytene chromosomes are formed by somatic pairing of homologous chromosomes followed by their repeated replication or endomitosis. They are in permanent prophase.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

  1. A diagram depicting chromosomes of haploid set of an organism ordered in a series of decreasing size is known as idiogram.
  2. In case of inversion when the inverted segment of chromosome includes centromere, it is known as paracentric inversion.
  3. Transmission of a gene from male parent to female child to male grand child is known as criss-cross inheritance.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Only 3

  4. 1 and 2

  5. 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In case of inversion when the inverted segment of chromosome includes centromere, it is known as pericentric inversion.

Multiple choice

By which of the following term can the functional segments of DNA be defined

  1. Genes

  2. Chromosomes

  3. Chromatin

  4. Chromatids

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Genes are specific, functional segments of DNA that code for particular proteins or traits. Chromosomes are structures containing DNA and proteins, chromatin is the complex of DNA and proteins, and chromatids are duplicated chromosome copies. Only genes represent functional DNA segments.

Multiple choice

A couple gone for counseling following first trimester miscarriages. As part of their evaluation, both the parents had chromosomal analysis. The father is found to have the karyotype 46, XY, inv8(p13q23). What interpretation is drawn?

  1. This is a normal variant, likely of no significance.

  2. This is an abnormal chromosome that would cause congenital anomalies if transmitted to the developing foetus.

  3. This rearrangement might cause chromosomal imbalance in developing foetus and could explain multiple miscarriages.

  4. This rearrangement might cause dicentric or acentric chromosomes in developing foetus, which would probably not be compatible with survival of the developing foetus.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is a pericentric inversion. Crossing over within the inversion loop would lead to duplication and deficiency of parts of chromosome 8, which might cause congenital anomalies.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a property of a prokaryotic cell?

  1. Size of a cell is generally large.

  2. Nucleus is absent.

  3. It contains more than one chromosome.

  4. Nucleolus is present in prokaryotic cell.

  5. Cell division occurs by mitotic or meiotic cell division.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. Nucleus is absent in a prokaryotic cell. Nuclear region is not surrounded by a nuclear membrane.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is not true?

  1. Functional segments of DNA are called genes.

  2. Chromatin material is organised to form chromosomes during cell division.

  3. Chromosomes are composed of DNA and proteins.

  4. Organisms lacking nuclear membrane are called eukaryotes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Organisms lacking nuclear membrane are called prokaryotes.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. In only about 90 minutes, yeast can progress through the cell cycle. b. The M-phase lasts more than 95% of the duration of the cell cycle. c. During interphase, the cell undergoes both cell growth and DNA replication.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false. The interphase lasts more than 95% of the duration of the cell cycle.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. Cells in the quiescent stage remain metabolically active, but no longer proliferate unless called on to do so. b. Mitotic cell division in animals is seen in the diploid somatic cells. c. Plants can show mitotic divisions in only haploid cells.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false. Plants show mitotic divisions in both haploid and diploid cells.

Multiple choice

Which of the following features do(es) not belong to metaphase?

a. Spindle fibres attach to kinetochores of the chromosomes. b. At the end of metaphase, the cells do not show golgi complexes, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleolus and the nuclear envelope. c. Chromosomes are moved to spindle equator and get aligned along the metaphase plate.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is not a feature of metaphase. At the end of prophase, the cells do not show golgi complexes, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleolus and the nuclear envelope.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements about the significance of mitosis is false?

  1. Multicellular organisms grow due to mitosis.

  2. Mitosis contributes towards the repair of cells.

  3. Mitosis increases the genetic variability in the population of organisms from one generation to the next.

  4. The production of diploid daughter cells with identical genetic complement is a resultant of mitosis.

  5. Mitotic divisions in the meristematic tissues result in a continuous growth of plants.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false about the significance of mitosis. Meiosis increases the genetic variability in the population of organisms from one generation to the next.

Multiple choice

Telophase is the final stage of mitosis. Which of the following is/are not the characteristic(s) of telophase?

a. Golgi complex and ER reform. b. Nuclear envelope assembles around the chromosome clusters. c. Chromosomes cluster at opposite spindle poles. d. Chromatids move to opposite poles.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as the movement of chromatids towards the opposite poles is not a characteristic of telophase.