Lesson 3.2.2.2

3.2.2.2 Mitosis, cytokinesis and cell differentiation Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.2.2, Mitosis, cytokinesis and cell differentiation: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 2: Cells, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which statement describes the outcome of mitosis in a eukaryotic cell?

    • One daughter cell with double the DNA of the parent cell.
    • Four daughter cells, each with half the DNA of the parent cell.
    • Two daughter cells, each with the same DNA as the parent cell.
    • Two daughter cells, each with half the chromosome number of the parent.

  2. During which stage of mitosis do chromosomes line up along the equator of the cell?

    • Prophase
    • Anaphase
    • Telophase
    • Metaphase

  3. During which stage of mitosis do the chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles of the cell?

    • Anaphase
    • Prophase
    • Metaphase
    • Interphase

  4. What is cytokinesis?

    • Movement of chromosomes to the cell equator in metaphase.
    • Replication of the DNA during interphase.
    • Division of the cytoplasm, usually producing two new cells.
    • Formation of spindle fibres from centrioles during prophase.

  5. Which structure is seen to break down during prophase of mitosis, allowing spindle fibres to reach the chromosomes?

    • The cell wall of a plant cell
    • The nuclear envelope
    • The cell surface membrane
    • The ribosomes in the cytoplasm

  6. In a plant root tip squash, which stage of the cell cycle would have the greatest proportion of cells, and why?

    • Telophase, because cells remain in it for the longest time.
    • Interphase, because it is the longest stage of the cycle.
    • Anaphase, because chromatids are separated for a long period.
    • Cytokinesis, because the cytoplasm is divided for a long period.

  7. A cell is seen with chromatids moving to opposite poles, and the nuclear envelope is starting to reform. What stage is this?

    • Interphase
    • Prophase
    • Metaphase
    • Telophase

  8. Which feature is a characteristic of cells that are undergoing mitosis in a plant root tip?

    • Chromosomes that are spread out and cannot be seen at all.
    • Chromosomes that are absent because the nucleus is destroyed first.
    • Chromosomes that are condensed and visible under an optical microscope.
    • Chromosomes that are replaced by plasmids during the division.

  9. A root tip squash shows 20 cells in mitosis out of 200 cells observed. What is the mitotic index?

    • 0.5
    • 0.1
    • 0.01
    • 0.2

  10. A cell in a root tip appears 40 mm across in a micrograph at magnification x400. What is its actual size?

    • 1.0 mm
    • 0.1 mm
    • 10 mm
    • 0.01 mm

  11. A cell appears 2 cm wide in a drawing at a magnification of x500. What is its actual width?

    • 0.04 mm
    • 4 mm
    • 0.4 mm
    • 0.004 mm

  12. A stem cell in bone marrow gives rise to many different blood cell types. What process allows this?

    • Binary fission, in which cells divide into two identical prokaryotic cells.
    • Osmosis, in which water moves into the cell by diffusion.
    • Crossing over, in which homologous chromosomes exchange sections.
    • Differentiation, in which cells become specialised for particular functions.

  13. A researcher finds that a cell division inhibitor stops the spindle from forming. Which mitotic stage would be most affected?

    • Metaphase, because chromosomes cannot align at the equator and attach to spindle fibres.
    • Cytokinesis, because the cytoplasm cannot be divided in any stage.
    • Interphase, because DNA cannot be replicated after spindle loss.
    • Telophase, because nuclei cannot reform after chromatids are seen.

  14. Why does cytokinesis usually follow mitosis, and what is its result?

    • It separates homologous chromosomes, producing gametes with half the DNA.
    • It replicates the DNA again, producing four haploid nuclei in one cell.
    • It forms the nuclear envelope before the chromosomes are replicated.
    • It divides the cytoplasm after nuclear division, producing two separate cells.

  15. A cell has a diploid number of 6 before mitosis. How many chromosomes does each daughter cell have after mitosis?

    • 12
    • 2
    • 6
    • 3

  16. Some cells in multicellular organisms no longer divide. What is the most accurate reason?

    • They have replaced their nuclei with plasmids, which cannot divide.
    • They have lost their DNA during the development of the organism.
    • They have differentiated and lost the ability to divide, as only some cells retain division.
    • They divide only by binary fission, which is too slow for mitosis.

  17. Compare the chromosome content of a cell in metaphase with one in telophase in the same mitosis. Which statement is correct?

    • Metaphase has double the chromosome number of telophase, because the cell is still dividing.
    • Telophase has half the chromosome number, because the nucleus has already lost its DNA.
    • They have different chromosome numbers because metaphase involves crossing over.
    • They have the same chromosome number, but in telophase each chromosome set is at a pole.

  18. A dividing root cell has a mitotic index that is rising over time in a cell population. What does this indicate?

    • The cells are being killed by a cytotoxic drug.
    • Cells are entering meiosis and producing gametes.
    • A greater proportion of cells are entering mitosis at that time.
    • Cells are differentiating into xylem vessels only.

  19. Which feature distinguishes a cell in prophase from a cell in interphase?

    • The cytoplasm has already divided, forming two separate cells.
    • The DNA is being replicated for the first time in the cell cycle.
    • Chromosomes have condensed and become visible as paired sister chromatids.
    • Spindle fibres are already attached to centromeres at the cell equator.

  20. An onion root tip cell has a diploid chromosome number of 16. How many chromosomes does each daughter cell have after one mitotic division?

    • 32
    • 8
    • 16
    • 4

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