EXERCISE: 1
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE
(Choose the best option out of the four alternatives a, b, c, and d)
Question 1:
The Chromatin material is formed forms of
(a) DNA only
(b) DNA and histones
(c) Histones only
(d) Nucleotides
Solution 1:
(b) DNA and Histones
Question 2:
The term “chromosomes” literally means
(a) Inherited bodies
(b) Twisted threads
(c) Coloured bodies
(d) Shining threads
Solution 2:
(c) Coloured bodies
B. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE:
Questions 1:
1. Name the following:
a) The repeating components of each DNA strand lengthwise.
b) The complex consisting of DNA strand and a core of histones.
c) The type of bond which joins the complementary nitrogenous bases.
d) The three components of a nucleotide.
Solution 1:
(a) Nucleotides.
(b) Nucleosome.
(c) Hydrogen Bond.
(d) Phosphate, Sugar and Nitrogenous base.
Class X
Chapter 1 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure Of Chromosomes Biology
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Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
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C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE:
Question 1:
What is the difference between chromatin fibre and chromosome?
Solution 1:
Chromatin fibre is unfolded, uncondensed, extended DNA. It is only visible when cell under
goes division whereas chromosomes are condensed DNA and they are visible when the cell
is divided.
Question 2:
What are the rungs of the “DNA ladder” made of?
Solutions:
Rungs of DNA ladder is made of nitrogenous bases which includes Adenine (A), Guanine
(G), Cytosine (C) and Thymine (T).
Question 2:
Correct the following statements if there is any mistake.
a) The four nitrogenous bases in the DNA are Guanine, Thiamine, Adrenaline and Cytosine.
b) Genes are specific sequences of bases on a chromosome.
c) A nucleotide is composed of a sulphate, a sugar (pentose) and a nitrogenous base.
d) Nucleosomes are groups of cysteine molecules surrounded by DNA strands.
e) If there are 46 chromosomes in a cell there will be 23 chromatin fibres inside the nucleus
during interphase.
Solution 2:
(a) The four nitrogenous bases in the DNA ladder are Guanine, Thymine, Adenine and
Cytosine.
(b) Genes are specific sequences of nucleotides on a chromosome.
(c) A nucleotide is composed of a phosphate, sugar (pentose) and a nitrogenous base.
(d) Nucleosomes are groups of histone molecules surrounded by DNA strands.
(e) If there are 46 chromosomes in a cell there will be 46 chromatin fibres inside the nucleus
during interphase.
D. LONG ANSWER TYPE:
Question 1:
What is a nucleosome?
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Solution 1:
Nucleosome is basic structural unit of DNA. Each strand of DNA winds around a core of eight
histone molecules. This core can be imagined like a football, around which a long rope is
wound with one or two loops. Each such complex structure is called a nucleosome. A single
human chromosome may have about a million nucleosomes.
Question 2
:
What are genes?
Solution 2:
Gene is a structural and functional unit of heredity and variations. Genes are specific sequences
of nucleotides on a chromosome that encode particular proteins which express in the form of
some particular feature of the body. In other words, gene is the DNA segment of the
chromosome and it controls the expression of characteristics.
E. STRUCTURED / APPLICATION / SKILL TYPE:
Question 1:
Given below is a schematic diagram of a portion of DNA.
(a) How many strands are shown in the pic?
(b) How many nucleotides have been shown in each strand?
(c) Name the parts numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
(d) Name the DNA unit constituted by the parts 1, 2, 3 collectively.
Solution 1:
(a) 2
(b) 2 on each strand
(c) 1- Phosphate, 2- Sugar, 3- Nitrogen Base, 4- Hydrogen Bond, 5 – Base
(d) Nucleotide
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Question 2:
The three sketch (A, B and C) are intended to represent the replication of DNA. What should
be their correct sequence starting with the first and ending with the last? ……
Solution 2:
B, C and A.
EXERCISE: 2
MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE:
(Choose the best option out of the four alternatives a, b, c and d)
Question 1:
The number of chromosomes in a certain type of cell division is halved. This kind of cell
division occurs in.
(a) Only testis
(b) Only ovary
(c) Both ovary and testis
(d) All body cells
Solution 1:
(c) Both ovary and testis
Question 2:
In which one of the following options the two stages of mitosis have been given in correct
sequence?
(a) Prophase, anaphase
(b) Metaphase, telophase
(c) Anaphase, telophase
(d) Telophase, anaphase
Solution 2:
(c) Anaphase, telophase
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Question 3:
Synthesis phase in the cell cycle is called so for the synthesis of more of.
(a) RNA
(b) RNA and proteins
(c) DNA
(d) Glucose
Solution 3:
(c) DNA
B. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE:
Question 1:
Imagine one cell (A) has undergone one mitotic division and another cell (B) has completed
its meiotic division. How many cells would the two produce?
Solution 1:
Cell A: 2
Cell B: 4
Question 2:
Match the events given in column A with the phase in mitotic cell division in column B
Column ‘A’
Column ‘B’
a) Chromosomes get arranged in a
horizontal plane at the equator.
Prophase
b) Daughter chromosomes move to
the opposite poles of a spindle.
Anaphase
c) Chromosomes become visible as
fine long threads.
Metaphase
d) Chromosomes lose their
distinctiveness and gradually
become transformed into a
chromatin network.
Telophase
Solution 2:
(a) Metaphase
(b) Telophase
(c) Prophase
(d) Anaphase
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Question 3:
Fill in the blanks:
a) Mitosis occurs in our ______ cells
b) Mitosis produces two daughter cells whereas meiosis produces ______ daughter cells.
c) Meiosis occurs only in __________ cells.
d) Humans have 46 chromosomes: Their sperms and eggs will have ______ chromosomes each.
e) During the pairing of chromosomes in meiosis, the ________ chromosomes come to lie side
by side.
f) The _______ (s) are surrounded by radiating rays called aster.
Solution 3:
(a) Somatic (body)
(b) Four
(c) Reproductive
(d) 23 and 23
(e) Homologous
(f) centriole
C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE:
Question 1:
State the difference between:
a) Chromosome and chromatid:
b) Centrosome and centromere:
c) Aster and spindle fibres:
d) Haploid and diploid:
Solution 1:
(a) A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single
piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide
sequences whereas a chromatid is one of the two copies of DNA making up a duplicated
chromosome, which are joined at their centromeres, for the process of cell division (mitosis
or meiosis).
(b) The centrosome is an area in the cell where microtubules are produced. Within an animal
cell centrosome, there is a pair of small organelles called the centrioles. During animal cell
division, the centrosome divides and the centrioles replicate (make new copies) whereas each
chromosome in its condensed form consists of two chromatids joined at some point along
the length. This point of attachment is called centromere.
(c) An aster is a cellular structure shaped like a star, formed around each Centrosome during
mitosis in an animal cell whereas spindle fibers are aggregates of microtubules that move
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
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chromosomes during cell division.
(d) A haploid cell is a cell that contains one complete set of chromosomes. Gametes are haploid
cells that are produced by meiosis whereas a diploid cell is a cell that contains two sets of
chromosomes. One set of chromosomes is donated from each parent.
Question 2:
“First meiotic division is the reduction division” what does the word ‘reduction’ refer to in this
statement?
Solution 2:
In this statement, reduction means that the number of chromosomes are reduced to half i.e. out
of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans, only single set of chromosomes are passed on to the
sex cells.
Question 3:
“Gametes must be produced by meiosis for sexual reproduction”. Why is it so?
Solution 3:
Gametes must be produced by meiosis for sexual reproduction because the numbers of
chromosomes are reduced to half during meiosis and then the normal diploid numbers of
chromosomes are regained during the process of fertilization.
Question 4:
Mention whether the following statements are (T) Or (F). Give reason in support of your
answer.
(a) As you grow from childhood to adulthood, your skin cells divide only to replace such cells
that are lost from the surface.
(b) The unfertilized human egg has half the number of chromosomes of the body cells.
(c) Nuclear membrane in mitotically dividing cells remains intact up to the metaphase and
disappears only in the telophase.
(d) Mitotic cell division can be a mode of reproduction.
(e) Crossing over between chromatids can occur only between homologous chromosomes.
Solution 4:
(a) False – Surface skin cells are continuously lost and replaced by the underlying cells.
(b) True – All types of human cells, have 46 chromosomes. The only type of cell which does
not have 46 chromosomes are the sex cells, which have only half of the number, so they
have 23 chromosomes. The egg cell is a sex cell (found in female). So it must have 23
chromosomes.
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
(c) False – Nuclear membrane disappears in Prophase itself, however it reappears during
Telophase.
(d) True – Mitotic cell division can be a mode of asexual reproduction in unicellular
organisms like amoeba or yeast cell which divides into two daughter cells.
(e) True – While the maternal and paternal chromosomes are separating, the chromatid
material gets exchanged between the two members of a homologous pair resulting in
genetic recombination.
D. STRUCTURED / APPLICATION/ SKILL TYPE:
Question 1:
Draw a labelled diagram to show the metaphase stage of mitosis in an animal cell having ‘6’
chromosomes.
Solution 1:
Question 2:
The diagram below represents a stage during cell division. Study the same and then answer
the question that follow:
a) Name the parts labelled 1, 2, and 3.
b) Identify the above stage and give a reason to support your answer.
c) Mention where in the body this type of cell division occurs.
d) Name the stage prior to this stage and draw a diagram to represent the same.
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Solution 2:
(a) 1 – Centrosome
2 – Spindle fibres
3 – Chromatids
(b) The stage described in the diagram is the late anaphase of mitosis in an animal cell. The
stage can be identified by the presence of separated chromatids which are found at the two
poles of the cell. The appearance of the furrow in the cell membrane classifies the stage as
the late anaphase.
(c) The division is mitotic division and this kind of cell division occurs in all the cells of the
body except for the reproductive cells.
(d) The stage before anaphase is metaphase.
Question 3:
The diagram given below represents a certain phenomenon which occurs during meiosis.
Name and explain the phenomenon by using the terms – homologous chromosomes,
chromatids, crossing over.
Solution 3:
The exchange of chromatids between homologous chromosomes is called crossing-over. This
is the process by which the two chromosomes of a homologous pair exchange equal segments
with each other.
Crossing over occurs in the first division of meiosis. At that stage each chromosome has
replicated into two strands called sister chromatids. The two homologous chromosomes of a pair
synapse, or come together. While the chromosomes are synapsed, breaks occur at corresponding
points in two of the non-sister chromatids, i.e., in one chromatid of each chromosome.
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Since the chromosomes are homologous, breaks at corresponding points mean that the segments
that are broken off contain corresponding genes, i.e., alleles. The broken sections are then
exchanged between the chromosomes to form complete new units, and each new recombined
chromosome of the pair can go to a different daughter sex cell. It results in recombination of
genes found on the same chromosome, called linked genes that would otherwise always be
transmitted together.
Question 4:
Given below is a diagram representing a stage during mitotic cell division in an animal cell
examine it carefully and answer the questions which follow.
a) Identify the stage. Give one reason in support of your answer.
b) Name the cell organelle that forms the ‘aster’
c) Name the parts labelled 1, 2 and 3.
d) Name the stage that follows the one shown above, how is that stage identified?
e) Mention two differences between mitosis and meiosis with regards to:
(i) The number of daughter cells produced.
The chromosome number in the daughter cells.
Solution 4:
(a) Late prophase. Because the nuclear membrane and nucleolus have disappeared.
(b) Centrioles
(c) 1 – Centromere
2 – Chromatids.
3 – Spindle fibre.
(d) Metaphase. The centromeres of chromosomes are drawn to the equator by equal pull
of two chromosomal spindle fibres that connects each centromere to the opposite poles,
forming a metaphasic plate.
(e)
Mitosis
Meiosis
(i) Two daughter cells are produced.
(i) Four daughter cells are produced.
(ii) It is equational division i.e. the
number of chromosome in the daughter
cells or parent cells remains the same.
(ii) It is reductional division i.e. the
number of chromosomes is reduced to
half in the daughter cells.
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
Question 5:
Given below are three diagrammatic sketches (A, B and C) of one and the same
particular phase during mitotic type of cell division.
(a) Identify the phase
(b) What is the diploid number of chromosomes shown in them?
(c) Identify whether these are animal cells or plant cells?
(d) Which of these is/are shown in correct direction?
(i) Only A
(ii) Only B
(iii) Only A and C
(iv) All the three
Solution 5:
(a) Metaphase.
(b) 4
(c) A – Animal
B – Animal
C – Plant
(iv)All the three
Question 6:
Shown below are four stages (A, B, C, D) (not in sequence) of a certain kind of cell
division.
Class X
Chapter 2 – Cell Cycle, Cell Division and Structure of Chromosomes
Biology
_____________________________________________________________________________
(a) Is it a plant cell or an animal cell? Give two reasons ___
(b) Is it undergoing mitosis or meiosis?
(c) What should be the correct sequence of these four stages among themselves?
(d) Name the stage that should precede the earliest of these stages
(e) Draw the stage names above inside the blank space provided.
Solution 6:
(a) This is an animal cell because:
i) The outline is circular (in plants it would be angular {rectangular or polygonal}) and
cell wall is absent.
ii) Centrosomes or centrioles are present. (These are found only in animal cells)
(b) Mitosis
(c) B, C, D, A.
(d) Interphase
(e)