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VICBiologyQuick questions
Unit 1: How do organisms regulate their functions?
Quick questions on The cell cycle, mitosis and binary fission: VCE Biology Unit 1
11short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is prokaryotic binary fission?Show answer
Prokaryotes have a single circular chromosome and no nucleus, so they reproduce by a simpler process called binary fission.
What is the eukaryotic cell cycle?Show answer
The cell cycle has two main parts: interphase (preparing for division) and the mitotic phase (dividing).
What is the four phases of mitosis (PMAT)?Show answer
A mnemonic: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase.
What are checkpoints?Show answer
The cell cycle is tightly regulated by checkpoints that pause the cycle to verify conditions before proceeding. The three major checkpoints:
What is prophase?Show answer
Chromosomes condense and become visible under the microscope as pairs of sister chromatids. The nuclear envelope breaks down. The mitotic spindle starts to form from microtubules organised by centrioles (in animal cells) at opposite poles.
What is metaphase?Show answer
Spindle fibres attach to the centromere of each chromosome. Chromosomes line up along the cell's equator at the metaphase plate. This is the diagnostic image of metaphase.
What is anaphase?Show answer
Centromeres divide. The two sister chromatids of each chromosome are pulled apart and dragged to opposite poles by shortening spindle fibres. The cell now has two identical sets of chromosomes, one at each pole.
What is telophase?Show answer
Chromosomes arrive at the poles and decondense back into chromatin. A new nuclear envelope re-forms around each set, and nucleoli reappear. The spindle dissolves.
What is q1?Show answer
Outline the four phases of mitosis and identify the key event in each. [4 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
A cell biologist measures DNA content per cell across the cell cycle: G1 = 2C, S = increases to 4C, G2 = 4C, M = 4C until anaphase, then 2C per daughter cell. Sketch in words how a graph of DNA content versus time would look, identifying each phase. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Compare prokaryotic binary fission with eukaryotic mitosis. (a) State two similarities. (b) State two differences.