Cell cycle

Question 1

What are chromosomes

Answer 1

The genetic information of all organisms is located in the nucleus, in chromosomes, made of DNA.
Human body cells have 46 chromosomes. 23 from the mother’s egg, 23 from the father’s sperm.

Question 2

What is a gene

Answer 2

A gene is a section of DNA which carries coding for a particular protein. Different genes control the development of different characteristics of an organism.

Question 3

What is interphase in the cell cycle

Answer 3

Preparation stage for cell division. The parent cell grows. The number of sub-cellular structures such as mitochondria and ribosomes increases. The DNA replicates to form 2 copies of each chromosome. Further growth occurs and the DNA is checked for errors and any repairs are made.

Question 4

What is mitosis in the cell cycle

Answer 4

Cells will die. They need to be replaced, and do so by undergoing mitosis. All cells apart from gametes undergo mitosis. They undergo meiosis.
Cells divide to produce 2 new ones, which are exact copies of the parent cell. 2 daughter cells are produced from the parent cell. Each daughter has 46 chromosomes.

Question 5

What is cytokinesis in the cell cycle

Answer 5

The cytoplasm divides into two and the new cell membrane separates off to give 2 new, identical daughter cells.