Q1.

(a) A student prepared a stained squash of cells from the tip of an onion root and
observed it using an optical microscope.

During the preparation of the slide, he:

• cut the first 5 mm from the tip of an onion root and placed it on a glass slide
• covered this tip with a drop of stain solution and a cover slip
• warmed the glass slide
• pressed down firmly on the cover slip.

He identified and counted nuclei in different stages of the cell cycle.

Explain why the student:

1. used only the first 5 mm from the tip of an onion root.

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2. pressed down firmly on the cover slip.

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(2)

Figure 1 shows the cells the student saw in one field of view. He used this field of view to
calculate the length of time these onion cells spent in anaphase of mitosis.

Figure 1

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(b) Scientists have found the mean length of time spent by onion cells in anaphase of
mitosis is 105 minutes. They also found the cell cycle of cells in the onion root
shown in Figure 1 takes 1080 minutes.

32 whole cells are shown in Figure 1.

Use this information and Figure 1 to calculate the length of time the cells of this
onion root are in anaphase and then calculate the percentage difference between
your answer and the mean length of time found by the scientists.

Show your working.

Answer = ____________________ %
(2)

(c) Tick (✓) the name given to the division of cytoplasm during the cell cycle.

A Binary fission

B Cytokinesis

C Phagocytosis

D Segregation

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 (1)

(d) Describe and explain what the student should have done when counting cells to
make sure that the mitotic index he obtained for this root tip was accurate.

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(2)

(e) A scientist treated growing tips of onion roots with a chemical that stops roots
growing. After 24 hours, he prepared a stained squash of these root tips.

Figure 2 is a drawing showing the chromosomes in a single cell observed in the

squash of one of these root tips in anaphase. This cell was typical of other cells in
anaphase in these root tips.

Figure 2

Use all of this information to suggest how the chemical stops the growth of roots.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.
The figure below shows some cells from an onion root tip at different stages of the cell
cycle.

© Ed Reschke/Oxford Scientific/Getty Images

(a) Place stages A to E in the correct order. Start with stage D.

D
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(1)

To obtain these images, the onion root tip was cut off, stained and put on a microscope
slide. A cover slip was placed on top. The root tip was then firmly squashed and viewed
under an optical microscope.

(b) Complete the table below to give one reason why each of these steps was
necessary.

Page 4 of 18
 Step Reason

Taking cells from the root tip

Firmly squashing the root tip

(2)

The figure below shows how the amount of DNA per cell changed during interphase and
meiosis in an animal.

(c) Explain how the behaviour of chromosomes causes these changes in the amount of
DNA per cell between F and G.

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(3)

(d) What would happen to the amount of DNA per cell at fertilisation of cell G?

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 ___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q3.
Figure 1 shows all the chromosomes present in one human cell during mitosis. A scientist
stained and photographed the chromosomes. In Figure 2, the scientist has arranged the
images of these chromosomes in homologous pairs.

Figure 1 Figure 2

(a) Give two pieces of evidence from Figure 1 that this cell was undergoing mitosis.
Explain your answers.

1. _________________________________________________________________

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2. _________________________________________________________________

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(2)

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(b) Tick (✓) one box that gives the name of the stage of mitosis shown in Figure 1.

A Anaphase

B Interphase

C Prophase

D Telophase

(1)

(c) When preparing the cells for observation the scientist placed them in a solution that
had a slightly higher (less negative) water potential than the cytoplasm. This did not
cause the cells to burst but moved the chromosomes further apart in order to reduce
the overlapping of the chromosomes when observed with an optical microscope.

Suggest how this procedure moved the chromosomes apart.

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(2)

(d) The dark stain used on the chromosomes binds more to some areas of the
chromosomes than others, giving the chromosomes a striped appearance.

Suggest one way the structure of the chromosome could differ along its length to
result in the stain binding more in some areas.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

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(1)

(e) In Figure 2 the chromosomes are arranged in homologous pairs.

What is a homologous pair of chromosomes?

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(1)

(f) Give two ways in which the arrangement of prokaryotic DNA is different from the
arrangement of the human DNA in Figure 1.

1. _________________________________________________________________

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2. _________________________________________________________________

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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q4.
A student investigated the stages of mitosis in a garlic root. The root tip was placed on a
microscope slide with a stain. A cover slip was placed on top and the root tip was firmly
squashed.

(a) Explain why

(i) a root tip was used;

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(1)

Page 8 of 18
 (ii) a stain was used;

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(1)

(iii) the root tip was firmly squashed.

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(1)

(b) The student examined the cells in the garlic root tip under the microscope, and
obtained the following data.

Stage Number of cells

Interphase 872

Prophase 74

Metaphase 18

Anaphase 10

Telophase 8

(i) Calculate the percentage of these cells in which the chromosomes are visible
and would consist of a pair of chromatids joined together. Show your working.

Answer ____________________
(2)

(ii) A different set of results was obtained when the count was repeated on
another occasion with a different garlic root tip. Give two reasons for the
difference in results.

1. ____________________________________________________________

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2. ____________________________________________________________

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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q5.
A student investigated mitosis in the tissue from an onion root tip.

(a) The student prepared a temporary mount of the onion tissue on a glass slide. She
covered the tissue with a cover slip. She was then given the following instruction.

“Push down hard on the cover slip, but do not push the cover slip sideways.”

Explain why she was given this instruction.

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(2)

The image below shows one cell the student saw in the onion tissue.

© Ed Reschke/
Oxford Scientific/Getty Images

(b) The student concluded that the cell in the image above was in the anaphase stage
of mitosis.
Was she correct? Give two reasons for your answer.

1. _________________________________________________________________

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2. _________________________________________________________________

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(2)

(c) The student counted the number of cells she observed in each stage of mitosis.
Of the 200 cells she counted, only six were in anaphase.

One cell cycle of onion root tissue takes 16 hours. Calculate how many minutes
these cells spend in anaphase.

Show your working.

Page 10 of 18
 Answer = ____________________ minutes
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q6.
(a) Mitosis is important in the life of an organism. Give two reasons why.

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(2)

A biologist used a microscope to investigate plant tissue where some of the cells were
dividing by mitosis. She examined 200 cells and counted the number of cells in interphase
and in each stage of mitosis.

The table shows some of the cells she saw, and the percentage of cells in interphase and
in two stages of mitosis, A and B.

Stage of cell cycle Percentage of cells

Interphase 90

Stage A 3

Stage B 1

Images by Edmund Beecher Wilson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

(b) (i) Explain why the biologist chose to examine 200 cells.

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 ______________________________________________________________

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(1)

(ii) Name Stage A and Stage B. Give the evidence from the photograph that you
used to identify the stage.

Name of Stage A________________________________________________

Evidence ______________________________________________________

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Name of Stage B________________________________________________

Evidence ______________________________________________________

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(4)

(c) In this tissue one complete cell cycle took 20 hours.

Using information from the table, calculate the mean time for these cells to complete
mitosis. Show your working.

Answer ____________________
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) 1. Where dividing cells are found / mitosis occurs;
OR
No dividing cells / mitosis in tissue further away / more than 5 mm from tip;
OR
To get (soft) tissue that will squash;
OR
Length that will fit under cover slip;
Accept most dividing cells

2. Single / thin layer of cells / spread out cells so light passes through (making
cells / nuclei visible);
Accept thin layer of tissue
Ignore to see cells clearly
2

(b) 3.57 / 3.6 / 3.7 / 3.71 / 3.8 (%);;

If the answer includes additional decimal places, award the
marks if it would round to a correct answer
There are 3 cells in anaphase
Accept for 1 mark, 101.25 / 101 (students estimate in
minutes)
OR
3.75 (difference between scientist estimate and student’s
estimate in minutes)
Ignore plus or minus signs
2

(c) Cytokinesis;
1

(d) Description;

Explanation;

E.g,

1. Examine large number of fields of view / many cells;

Mark as pairs only
Accept large number / 20 or more for many

2. To ensure representative sample;

Accept typical / reliable
OR

3. Repeat count;

4. To ensure figures are correct;

Page 13 of 18
 OR

5. Method to deal with part cells shown at edge /count only whole cells;

6. To standardise counting;
2 max

(e) 1. Stops anaphase / cell division / mitosis;

Accept prevents telophase / cytokinesis

2. (By) stopping / disrupting / spindle fibres forming / attaching / pulling;

Ignore affects anaphase

3. Preventing separation of (sister) chromatids;

Ignore chromosomes separate / split
Accept chromatids split

4. (So) no new cells added (to root tip);

3 max
[10]

Q2.
(a) (D)CBEA.
1

(b)
Step Reason

Region where
(Taking cells
mitosis / cell
from the root
division
tip)
occurs;

To allow light
(Firmly
through /
squashing
make tissue layer
the root tip)
thin;
2

(c) (Increase)
1. Chromosomes / DNA replicates;
(First decrease)

2. Homologous chromosomes separate;

(Second decrease)

3. Sister chromatids separate.

3

(d) 1. (DNA would) double / go to 2 (arbitrary units).

1
[7]

Page 14 of 18
Q3.
(a) 1. The (individual) chromosomes are visible because they have condensed;
Both parts of each answer are required – evidence and
explanation.
For ‘they’ accept ‘chromosomes/chromatin/DNA’
Accept ‘tightly coiled’ or ‘short and thick’ for condensed but
do not accept ‘contracted’.
Ignore references to nucleus/nucleolus/nuclear membrane.

2. (Each) chromosome is made up of two chromatids because DNA has

replicated;
Both parts of each answer are required – evidence and
explanation.
Accept ‘sister chromatids’ for ‘two chromatids’.
Ignore references to nucleus/nucleolus/nuclear membrane.

3. The chromosomes are not arranged in homologous pairs, which they would be
if it was meiosis;
Both parts of each answer are required – evidence and
explanation.
Accept not meiosis because bivalents/chiasmata/crossing
over not seen.
Ignore references to nucleus/nucleolus/nuclear membrane.
2 max

(b) Automarked q – ✔ prophase

1

(c) 1. Water moves into the cells/cytoplasm by osmosis;

Reject water moving into chromosomes/nucleus.

2. Cell/cytoplasm gets bigger;

Accept idea of cell/cytoplasm has greater
volume/swells/expands.
Ignore references to pressure changes, turgidity and
chromosomes being more dilute.
Ignore references to changing water/fluid contents of the cell.
Allow ECF for ‘nucleus expands’ but not for ‘chromosomes
expand’.
2

(d) Differences in base sequences

OR

Differences in histones/interaction with histones

OR

Differences in condensation/(super)coiling;
Answer must be in context of differences in arrangement of

Page 15 of 18
 chromosomes not just related to the properties of the stain.
Accept spec section 8 ideas e.g. different
methylation/acetylation
Accept different genes
Reject different alleles
1

(e) (Two chromosomes that) carry the same genes;

Reject ‘same alleles’
Accept ‘same loci’ (plural) or ‘genes for the same
characteristics’
1

(f) (Prokaryotic DNA) is

1. Circular (as opposed to linear);

2. Not associated with proteins/histones ;

3. Only one molecule/piece of DNA

OR
present as plasmids;
Max 1 if prokaryotic DNA only found as plasmids OR if
prokaryotic DNA is single stranded.
Ignore references to nucleus, exons, introns or length of
DNA. Do not credit converse statements.
Ignore descriptions of eukaryotic DNA alone.
2 max
[9]

Q4.
(a) (i) where mitosis / division / growing / occurs
(reject growing cells)
1

(ii) to distinguish chromosomes / chromosomes not visible

without stain;
1

(iii) to let light through / thin layer;

1

(b) (i) 74 + 18 / 982;

= 9.4% / 9%;
2
(allow 1 mark for identifying prophase & metaphase i.e.92 or
correct method using wrong figures)

(ii) genetic differences / different types of garlic;

time of day;
chance;
age of root tip;
water availability;

Page 16 of 18
 temperature;
nutrient availability;
(environmental factors = 1 but cannot be awarded in
addition to a named environmental factor)
2 max
[7]

Q5.
(a) 1. Push hard – spread / squash tissue;
2. Not push sideways – avoid rolling cells together / breaking
chromosomes.
Neutral – to see cells clearly
2

(b) No (no mark)

Yes (no mark)

1. Chromosomes / chromatids are (in two groups) at poles of spindle / at

ends of spindle;
Do not accept ‘ends of cell’

2. V-shape shows that (sister) chromatids have been pulled apart at their
centromeres / that centromeres of (sister) chromatids have been pulled
apart.
2

(c) 28.8 / 29.

If incorrect, allow:

= 1 mark
2
[6]

Q6.
(a) 1. Growth / increase in cell number;
Ignore growth of cells

2. Replace cells / repair tissue / organs / body;

Ignore repair cells
Reject bacteria

3. Genetically identical cells;

‘Produces 2 genetically identical cells’ does not reach MP1
as well as MP3

4. Asexual reproduction / cloning;

Allow example or description
2 max

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(b) (i) (Ensures) representative (sample);
Accept find some cells in mitosis / not in interphase.
Accept ‘more reliable’ only if linked to percentage (of
cells).‘Improves reliability’ on its own does not gain this mark
Neutral: Large sample
1

(ii) 1. A = metaphase;

2. Chromosome / chromatids lie on equator;

Reject homologous chromosomes Allow centre / middle

3. B = anaphase;

4. Chromatids / chromosomes separating / moving apart / moving to

poles;
Reject homologous chromosomes
4

(c) 2 hours / 120 minutes;

Allow 1 mark if working shows candidate understood that
mitosis would take 10%
2
[9]

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