Lesson 3.2.2.1

3.2.2.1 Binary fission and the cell cycle Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.2.1, Binary fission and the cell cycle: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 2: Cells, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In binary fission, what must happen to the circular DNA before the prokaryotic cell divides?

    • It is broken into linear fragments that are shared unevenly between the daughters.
    • It is destroyed and rebuilt from free nucleotides inside each daughter cell.
    • It is packaged around histone proteins to form chromosomes before division.
    • It is replicated so each daughter cell receives one copy.

  2. Which process divides a prokaryotic cell into two daughter cells, each with a single copy of the circular DNA?

    • Mitosis
    • Binary fission
    • Meiosis
    • Budding

  3. Plasmids are replicated during binary fission. What does this mean for the daughter cells?

    • Plasmids are lost, so neither daughter cell contains any plasmid.
    • Each daughter receives one plasmid and no copies of the circular DNA.
    • Each daughter receives exactly the same number of plasmid copies as the parent.
    • Each daughter receives a variable number of plasmid copies.

  4. In which phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle does DNA replication take place?

    • Telophase
    • Prophase
    • Anaphase
    • Interphase

  5. Which statement about prokaryotic DNA is correct?

    • It is circular and enclosed inside a membrane-bound nucleus.
    • It is linear and contains exons separated by introns.
    • It is linear and packaged with histone proteins in the nucleus.
    • It is circular and not associated with histone proteins.

  6. Viruses do not undergo cell division. Why is this?

    • They have no nucleic acid, so there is nothing to copy.
    • They divide only by binary fission inside red blood cells.
    • They are living but lack a cell membrane, so they cannot divide.
    • They are non-living, and the host cell replicates the virus particles.

  7. Which statement describes mitochondrial DNA in a eukaryotic cell?

    • It is short, circular and not associated with protein.
    • It is located only in the nucleus and forms chromosomes.
    • It is long, linear and wound around histone proteins.
    • It contains introns and exons and is spliced before use.

  8. A bacterial cell contains a circular chromosome. After one complete binary fission, how many copies of the circular chromosome does each daughter cell contain?

    • Two
    • One
    • Four
    • Zero

  9. A bacterium divides by binary fission every 20 minutes. How many cells are produced from one bacterium after 2 hours?

    • 12
    • 32
    • 64
    • 128

  10. A culture starts with 500 bacteria that double every 30 minutes by binary fission. How many bacteria are present after 2 hours?

    • 16000
    • 8000
    • 4000
    • 2000

  11. A dividing eukaryotic cell has just completed DNA replication. Which description of its chromosomes is correct?

    • Each chromosome now carries two different alleles of the same gene only.
    • Each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids joined at the centromere.
    • The cell has halved its DNA content so each chromosome is a single chromatid.
    • Each chromosome has lost its centromere and is split into two separate molecules.

  12. Which list gives the correct order of stages in mitosis after interphase?

    • Anaphase, telophase, prophase, metaphase
    • Telophase, anaphase, metaphase, prophase
    • Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
    • Metaphase, prophase, telophase, anaphase

  13. A drug stops spindle fibres from attaching to centromeres. Which event of mitosis would be most directly prevented?

    • Replication of DNA during interphase
    • Separation of sister chromatids to opposite poles
    • Division of the cytoplasm after telophase has finished
    • Formation of tissue fluid around the cell

  14. Many cancer treatments are designed to control cell division. Why is this an appropriate target?

    • Cancer cells cannot divide, so drugs must only stop differentiation.
    • Cancer arises from uncontrolled cell division, so slowing division limits tumour growth.
    • Cancer is caused by viruses that divide inside the host cell nucleus.
    • Cancer cells divide by binary fission, which drugs block directly.

  15. Which statement best distinguishes binary fission from mitosis?

    • Binary fission involves histone proteins, while mitosis involves plasmids only.
    • Binary fission produces four daughter cells, while mitosis produces two daughter cells.
    • Binary fission occurs only in plants, while mitosis occurs only in animals.
    • Binary fission uses one circular DNA molecule and no spindle, while mitosis uses linear chromosomes and spindle fibres.

  16. A student claims that a virus divides by binary fission inside a host cell. Which evaluation is correct?

    • The claim is right, because viruses have circular DNA and divide by binary fission.
    • The claim is partly right, because viruses divide by mitosis within the host nucleus.
    • The claim is right, because viruses divide in the same way as mitochondria.
    • The claim is wrong, because viruses are non-living and do not divide; the host cell makes new virus particles.

  17. A bacterium contains one circular chromosome and three plasmids and then divides. Which statement about the daughter cells is best supported?

    • Each has three chromosome copies and exactly one plasmid.
    • Each has one chromosome copy, but plasmid numbers may differ between the two daughters.
    • Neither has DNA because the circular chromosome splits into fragments.
    • Both have identical numbers of plasmids because plasmids do not replicate.

  18. A eukaryotic cell with diploid number 2n = 8 has just completed DNA replication. How many DNA molecules does each chromosome now contain?

    • 4
    • 2
    • 1
    • 8

  19. A population of 100 bacteria doubles every 25 minutes. How many bacteria are present after 100 minutes if none die?

    • 3200
    • 1600
    • 800
    • 400

  20. Why are daughter prokaryotic cells from binary fission genetically near-identical, yet able to differ in plasmid content?

    • Chromosomes are lost during division, and plasmids are then made again from scratch.
    • Chromosomes are split by spindle fibres, but plasmids are copied only once per cell.
    • Chromosomes are shuffled by crossing over, but plasmids are always shared equally.
    • Chromosome replication produces identical copies, but plasmids are shared out in variable numbers.

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