Practise 42 real questions on The mitotic cell cycle from 2021 to 2026. See the answer and explanation as soon as you answer.
The mitotic cell cycle is one of the 11 main topics in our A Level Biology (Cambridge (CAIE) 9700) question bank, and about 6% of its real questions come from it. Tayyari Karo has 42 real questions on this topic from 2021 to 2026, from Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 4; 37 are multiple choice and marked instantly, and the rest are structured questions with a model answer. By difficulty: 25 medium, 14 hard, 3 easy.
Work through the questions below, then open the explanation for each one. Redo the ones you missed a few days later.
These are real past-paper questions. Think of your answer first, then open the explanation.
Which processes are used by stem cells during tissue repair?
1 cytokinesis
2 DNA replication
3 transcription
Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3
Stem cells dividing by mitosis during tissue repair carry out DNA replication (S phase), transcription (gene expression) and cytokinesis (division of the cytoplasm), so all three are correct.
Telomeres become shorter during each cell cycle of a specialised cell. In which phase of the cell cycle do telomeres shorten?
Answer: C. S
Telomeres shorten during DNA replication (S phase) because DNA polymerase cannot fully replicate the very end of the lagging strand.
Which row about the stages of the mitotic cell cycle is correct, for the phase in which DNA ligase is used in the nucleus and the phase in which RNA polymerase is used in the nucleus?
Answer: D. DNA ligase: S phase; RNA polymerase: G1 phase
DNA ligase joins Okazaki fragments during DNA replication in S phase; RNA polymerase transcribes genes (e.g. for growth/protein synthesis) during G1 phase.
Which processes require mitosis? 1 the cloning of T-lymphocytes; 2 the repair of cell structures by protein synthesis; 3 the growth of multicellular organisms from a single cell; 4 the reproduction of a unicellular eukaryote.
Answer: B. 1, 3 and 4
Mitosis produces genetically identical cells for cloning of lymphocytes (1), growth of a multicellular organism from a zygote (3), and asexual reproduction of a unicellular eukaryote (4). Repair of cell structures by protein synthesis (2) does not require mitosis (no new cells are made).
Which processes occur during interphase?
1 DNA replication
2 microtubule organisation
3 synthesis of ribosomes
Answer: C. 1 and 3 only
DNA replication (S phase) and ribosome synthesis both occur during interphase (G1/S/G2); microtubule/spindle organisation occurs during prophase/prometaphase of mitosis itself, not interphase.
Some chemicals, used to stop tumour growth, work by preventing the DNA double helix from uncoiling and separating. During which stage of the cell cycle would they act?
Answer: B. interphase
DNA must uncoil and the strands separate for replication, which occurs during the S phase of interphase; blocking this prevents DNA replication.
| Session | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May/June 2026 | 2 | – | – |
| May/June 2025 | 4 | – | – |
| October/November 2025 | 3 | – | – |
| May/June 2024 | 4 | – | – |
| October/November 2024 | 4 | 1 | – |
| May/June 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| October/November 2023 | 3 | – | – |
| May/June 2022 | 4 | – | – |
| October/November 2022 | 4 | 1 | – |
| May/June 2021 | 3 | – | – |
| October/November 2021 | 4 | 1 | – |
42 real A Level Biology (9700) questions on The mitotic cell cycle from 2021 to 2026, from Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 4. Each one shows the year, session and paper it came from.
Yes. Every question shows the correct answer and a short explanation the moment you answer.
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