CLEP CLEP Biology Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During which phase of mitosis do chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plate (metaphase plate)?
- Prophase
- Metaphase (Correct answer)
- Anaphase
- Telophase
Correct answer: Metaphase
During metaphase, chromosomes are moved to the middle of the cell and align along the metaphase plate by spindle fibers attached to each kinetochore.
Question 2: Which checkpoint in the cell cycle verifies that DNA replication is complete and undamaged before allowing the cell to enter mitosis?
- G1 checkpoint
- S-phase checkpoint
- G2 checkpoint (Correct answer)
- Spindle assembly checkpoint
Correct answer: G2 checkpoint
The G2 checkpoint ensures that DNA has been fully and accurately replicated before the cell commits to mitotic division.
Question 3: Sister chromatids are held together until anaphase by proteins called cohesins at the region known as the:
- Telomere
- Centromere (Correct answer)
- Kinetochore
- Chromatid arm
Correct answer: Centromere
The centromere is the constricted region where cohesin proteins join sister chromatids; kinetochores assemble on centromeres to attach spindle fibers.
Question 4: During which phase of mitosis does the nuclear envelope reform around each set of chromosomes?
- Anaphase
- Metaphase
- Telophase (Correct answer)
- Prometaphase
Correct answer: Telophase
Telophase is characterized by the reformation of the nuclear envelope around each set of chromosomes as the cell prepares to divide.
Question 5: Cytokinesis in animal cells is accomplished by the formation of a:
- Cell plate
- Cleavage furrow (Correct answer)
- Phragmoplast
- Tonoplast
Correct answer: Cleavage furrow
Animal cells lack a cell wall, so cytokinesis occurs by a cleavage furrow—an actin-myosin contractile ring that pinches the cell in two.
Question 6: Which of the following is correctly classified as part of interphase rather than mitosis?
- Prophase
- S phase (Correct answer)
- Metaphase
- Telophase
Correct answer: S phase
S phase (DNA synthesis/replication) is a stage of interphase; prophase, metaphase, and telophase are all stages within mitosis itself.
Question 7: A somatic cell with 46 chromosomes completes mitosis. How many chromosomes does each daughter cell contain?
- 23
- 46 (Correct answer)
- 92
- 48
Correct answer: 46
Mitosis is an equational division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells, each with the same chromosome number (46) as the parent cell.
CLEP CLEP Biology Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis 1
During which phase of mitosis do chromosomes align at the cell's equatorial plate (metaphase plate)?