Edexcel GCSE Biology

Mitosis & the cell cycle

Edexcel GCSE Biology revision on Mitosis & the cell cycle. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 25)

  1. Question 1

    How many daughter cells does one mitotic division produce?

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    Answer: 2

    Mitosis produces 2 genetically identical daughter cells with the full set of chromosomes. Used for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction. Compare with meiosis (sex cells, 4 genetically different cells with HALF the chromosomes).

  2. Question 2

    Mitosis is used for all of the following EXCEPT...

    • A) Growth
    • B) Repair of damaged tissue
    • C) Making sperm and egg cells
    • D) Asexual reproduction
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    Answer: Making sperm and egg cells

    Mitosis: growth, repair (cuts healing), replacing dead cells, asexual reproduction. Produces genetically identical cells with the full chromosome count. Meiosis: only for making gametes (sex cells) - produces 4 different daughter cells with HALF the chromosomes so when egg + sperm fuse, the offspring has the right number.

  3. Question 3

    Before mitosis, DNA in the nucleus...

    • A) Disappears temporarily
    • B) Replicates so each chromosome has two identical sister chromatids
    • C) Splits in half
    • D) Mutates
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    Answer: Replicates so each chromosome has two identical sister chromatids

    Cell cycle has 3 main stages: INTERPHASE (cell grows, DNA copies - each chromosome becomes a pair of sister chromatids joined at the centromere), MITOSIS (chromosomes separate to opposite ends, nucleus divides), CYTOKINESIS (cytoplasm divides - 2 cells formed). DNA replication BEFORE mitosis is why daughter cells get the FULL chromosome set.

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