_______________________

Name:
_
Cell division
_______________________
Class:
_

_______________________
Date:
_

Time: 200 min.

Marks: 198 marks

Comments:

Page 1 of 25
Q1.
Cells divide in a series of stages called the cell cycle.

Stage 2 of the cycle is mitosis.

The diagram below shows a simplified cell cycle for a human body cell.

(a) Draw one line from each stage in the cell cycle to what happens during that stage.

Stage in the cell What happens during

cycle that stage

Stage 1 Nucleus divides

Stage 2 Cell divides into two

Copies of the DNA are

Stage 3
made
(2)

(b) The mass of DNA in a human body cell at the start of the cell cycle is 6 picograms.

What mass of DNA will be in each of the new cells produced by this cell division?

Tick one box.

3 picograms

Page 2 of 25
 6 picograms

9 picograms

12 picograms

(1)

(c) Stem cells are undifferentiated cells.

Which statement about stem cells is correct?

Tick one box.

Animal stem cells are found in meristems

Animal stem cells divide by meiosis

Meristem cells in plants can differentiate throughout

the life of the plant

Meristem cells in plants can only differentiate into one

type of cell
(1)

Stem cells from human embryos can differentiate into most types of human cell.

Research is being done into the use of embryonic stem cells in medical treatments.

The long-term effects of using embryonic stem cells in patients are not well understood.

In therapeutic cloning, human embryos are produced using a donated human egg cell and
a cell from the patient.

• The embryo produced contains the same genetic information as the patient.

• Stem cells are taken from the embryo and stimulated to divide to form cells the
patient needs.

• The embryo is then destroyed.

(d) Suggest two advantages of therapeutic cloning.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Page 3 of 25
 (e) Suggest two disadvantages of therapeutic cloning.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q2.
This question is about stem cells.

(a) Give one place in a plant where stem cells are found.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) What is one economic use of plant stem cells?

Tick one box.

To create genetically modified crops

To create new species of plants

To increase variation in plants

To produce large numbers of identical plants

(1)

Embryonic stem cells divide by mitosis.

Figure 1 represents a cell cycle for a human embryonic stem cell.

Figure 1

Page 4 of 25
(c) The mass of DNA in the cell at the start of the cycle is 6 picograms.

A picogram is 10−3 nanograms.

Convert 6 picograms to grams.

Give your answer in standard form.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Mass = _____________________ g
(1)

(d) The time taken for this complete cell cycle is 15 hours.

Calculate how many hours the cell spent in mitosis.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Time spent in mitosis = _____________________ hours

(2)

(e) Describe what happens in each of the three stages of the cell cycle.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 5 of 25
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(5)

(f) Figure 2 shows how embryonic stem cells are produced in therapeutic cloning for
use in patients.

Figure 2

Give two advantages and two disadvantages of therapeutic cloning in medical

treatments.

Use Figure 2 to help you.

Advantage 1 ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Advantage 2 ________________________________________________________

Page 6 of 25
 ___________________________________________________________________

Disadvantage 1 ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Disadvantage 2 ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 14 marks)

Q3.
Muscle cells divide to form new muscle cells.

(a) Which two cell components are copied before the muscle cells start to divide?

Tick two boxes.

Cytoplasm

Mitochondria

Plasmids

Ribosomes

Vacuole

(2)

(b) Why do muscle cells need to divide by mitosis more often than most other cells?

Tick one box.

To contract the muscles

To repair the muscles

To supply more oxygen to the muscles

To transmit nerve impulses

(1)

Mitosis is part of the cell cycle.

Page 7 of 25
The diagram below shows the percentage of time taken by each stage of a cell cycle.

(c) The cell cycle shown in the diagram above takes 21 hours in total.

Cell division takes 5% of the total time.

Calculate how many hours cell division takes.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Time taken = _______________ hours

(2)

(d) What percentage of time is spent copying DNA in the cell cycle shown in the
diagram above?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Percentage = _______________
(2)

(e) A sperm cell from a dog contains 39 chromosomes.

How many chromosomes are there in each dog muscle cell?

Tick one box.

39

Page 8 of 25
 78

156

312

(1)

(f) A sperm cell fuses with an egg cell.

What is this process called?

Tick one box.

Fertilisation

Meiosis

Ovulation

Respiration

(1)
(Total 9 marks)

Q4.
The diagram shows how cells from human embryos can be used to grow ‘replacement
body parts’ for humans.

Page 9 of 25
(a) How many chromosomes are in a fertilised human egg?

Tick one box.

12 23 46 92

(1)

(b) What is the process labelled G?

Tick one box.

Fertilisation

Inheritance

Meiosis

Mitosis

(1)

Page 10 of 25
(c) When the embryo is three days old, it contains eight cells.

How many times has the fertilised egg cell divided by day three?

Tick one box.

2 3 4 8

(1)

(d) Stem cells become specialised in the process labelled H in the diagram.

What is the process labelled H?

Tick one box.

Differentiation

Evolution

Genetic modification

Selective breeding

(1)

(e) Which two parts would be found in all the cells in the diagram.

Tick two boxes.

Cell membrane

Cell wall

Chloroplasts

Cytoplasm

Plasmids

(2)

(f) Why might stem cells from human embryos be more useful than stem cells from
adults?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(g) Some parents have stem cells from the umbilical cord of their baby collected and
stored.

Page 11 of 25
 These stem cells can be used to treat diseases in the child later in life.

Why might stem cells from their own umbilical cord be used rather than stem cells
from another embryo?

Tick one box.

Less risk of rejection of umbilical cord stem cells.

Stem cells from another embryo can treat more

diseases.

Umbilical cord stem cells are older.

(1)

(h) Some medical uses of stem cells are still experimental.

Why do some scientists have concerns about the use of stem cells?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(i) Some people object to the use of embryonic stem cells because of religious beliefs.

Give one other ethical concern about the use of embryonic stem cells?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q5.
When an organism grows, new cells are produced by cell division.

(a) What type of cell division happens to produce new body cells?

Tick one box.

Differentiation

Meiosis

Mitosis

(1)

(b) Why can cancers grow very large?

Page 12 of 25
 Tick one box.

Cancer cells are specialised

Cell division is slow

Cell division is uncontrolled

(1)

(c) Give one factor which increases the risk of getting cancer.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) Survival rates for people with cancer have improved a lot.

People who are alive 10 years after diagnosis are usually considered to be cured.

The figure below shows data for people diagnosed with cancer in 1961 and 2001.

78% of people diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 were alive 10 years later.

Complete the figure above to show this information.

(1)

(e) Which type of cancer diagnosed in 1961 had the highest survival rate?

Page 13 of 25
 Tick one box.

Breast

Prostate

Skin

Testicular

(1)

(f) Which type of cancer shows the biggest improvement in the percentage of people
alive after 10 years?

Tick one box.

Breast

Prostate

Skin

Testicular

(1)

(g) Suggest two reasons why the survival rates for all cancers have increased.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q27.
Diagram 1 shows an animal cell and some of the structures inside the cell.

Page 14 of 25
(a) Use words from the box to label structures A, B and C, on Diagram 1.

Characteristic Chromosome Gamete Gene Nucleus

(3)

(b) Factors that may affect characteristics include genes and the environment.

Diagram 2 shows some of the characteristics of a girl.

Draw one line from each characteristic in List A to the factor(s) that affect the
characteristic in List B.

List A List B
Characteristic Factor(s) that affect the characteristic

Affected by genes only

Blue eyes

Affected by environment only

Page 15 of 25
Height 162 cm

Affected by both genes and the environment

Scar on arm

Affected by neither genes nor the environment

(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 16 of 25
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)

allow 1 mark for 1 or 2 correct

credit can be given where students have
matched the boxes correctly, for example
numbering the boxes
2

(b) 6 picograms
1

(c) meristem cells in plants can differentiate throughout the life of the plant
1

(d) any two from:

• may cure / treat diseases
or
cure medical conditions
or
produce replacement cells / tissues / organs
allow example e.g. diabetes / paralysis
allow cells can be stored for future use
ignore used in medical treatments
ignore patient makes / grows cells / tissues /
organs

• cells unlikely to be rejected by patient)

ignore same genetic information

• cells / tissues of any type can be produced

ignore differentiated into most types of cells

• many cells produced

• cells produced could be used for research

• would reduce waiting time for transplants

2
ignore references to cost
ignore all reference to producing babies / IVF

(e) any two from:

• (potential) life is killed / destroyed
allow embryo is killed

Page 17 of 25
 ignore embryo is destroyed
ignore embryo is a life / becomes a baby

• shortage of donors / eggs

• egg donation / collection has risks

• do not yet know risks / side effects of the procedure on the patient
ignore long term effects are not well understood
allow may cause tumours / cancer

• may transfer (viral) infection

• poor success rate

allow in terms of viable egg / embryo / cell /
tissue / organ production
2
ignore references to cost
ignore unethical unqualified
Ignore reference to religion / beliefs
[8]

Q2.
(a) any one from:

• meristem(s)

• tip of shoot
ignore stem and embryo
• tip of root
1

(b) to produce large numbers of identical plants

1

(c) 6 × 10−12 (grams)

1

(d)
or
1.166666666(r)

allow correct rounding

allow 1.16
1

1.17 (hours)
allow 1 mark for 1 hour 10 minutes or 1 and 1/6
hours or 70 minutes only if units given
1
an answer of 1.17 (hours) scores 2 marks

(e) stage 1

Page 18 of 25
 cell growth
or
increase in number of organelles
allow increase in named organelle e.g.
ribosomes / mitochondria
1

DNA replicates*
or
two copies of each chromosome form*
*allow DNA duplicates / doubles
*ignore genetic information replicates
*if this statement given as part of stage 2 allow
max 4 marks
1

stage 2 / mitosis
one set of chromosomes moves to each end of cell
allow chromosomes separate or are pulled apart
1

nucleus divides
allow nucleus splits into two
1

stage 3
cytoplasm / cell membrane divides to form two (genetically) identical cells
allow cytokinesis
1
max 4 if correct sequence but no reference to
stage numbers
max 4 marks if no stage numbers given
ignore names of phases
marks can be awarded for labelled diagrams

(f) any two from:

advantages:
• may be used to cure / treat (current / future) diseases
or
cure medical conditions
or
produce replacement cells / tissues / organs
allow example e.g. diabetes / paralysis
ignore used for medical treatments

• cells / tissues of any type could be produced

allow cells differentiate into many types

• cells / tissues of any type could be produced

ignore identical cells are produced unqualified

• many cells produced

• cells produced could be used for research
• would reduce waiting time for organ transplants
2

Page 19 of 25
 any two from:
ignore references to cost
ignore unethical unqualified
ignore references to religion / beliefs

disadvantages:

• potential life is killed / destroyed

allow embryo is destroyed
ignore cells destroyed or wasted

• shortage of donors / eggs

• egg donation / collection has risks
• do not yet know risks /side effects of the procedure on
the patient
allow may cause tumours / cancer

• may transfer (viral) infection

• poor success rate to produce viable eggs / embryo
2
ignore references to cost
[14]

Q3.
(a) mitochondria
1

ribosomes
1

(b) to repair the muscles

1

(c)

1.05 (hours)
allow for 2 marks 1 hour 3 minutes or 1:03
(hours)
1
an answer of 1.05 hours scores 2 marks

(d)
allow 5 × 7
1

35 (%)
1
an answer of 53 (%) scores 2 marks

Page 20 of 25
 (e) 78
1

(f) fertilisation
1
[9]

Q4.
(a) 46
1

(b) mitosis
1

(c) 3
1

(d) differentiation
1

(e) cell membrane

1

cytoplasm
1

(f) (stem cells from embryos) can become more types of cell
allow converse
allow (stem cells from embryos) are pluripotent
1

(g) less risk of rejection of umbilical cord stem cells

1

(h) could cause cancer

1

(i) any one from:

• embryos are created (for this purpose)
• embryos are destroyed
• the embryos do not develop into a foetus / child
ignore religious objections
1
[10]

Q5.
(a) mitosis
extra box ticked negates mark
1

(b) cell division is uncontrolled

extra box ticked negates mark
1

(c) any one from:

Page 21 of 25
 • smoking / tar
• alcohol
• carcinogens
allow named chemical
• viruses (living in cells)
• (ionising) radiation
accept UV / X-rays / gamma waves
1

(d) bar plotted at 78%

ignore width of bar
1

(e) testicular
extra box ticked negates mark
1

(f) prostate
extra box ticked negates mark
1

(g) any two from:

• improved treatment / drugs

• earlier diagnosis
• more cancer screening
• improved patient knowledge (of risk factors)
allow improved patient diet / lifestyle
2
[8]

Q27.
(a) A – nucleus
1

B – chromosome
1

C – gene
1

(b)

extra line from statement cancels the mark

3
[6]

Page 22 of 25
Examiner reports

Q1.
(a) 33% of students achieved both marks for knowing the sequence of events in the cell
cycle. 51% of students achieved one mark, which was usually for realising that in
the final stage the cell divides into two.

(b) The majority of students thought the mass of DNA in the new cells produced by
mitosis would be half of that in the cell at the start of the cell cycle. 30% of students
said the mass would be the same.

(c) The majority of students incorrectly thought that animal stem cells divide by meiosis.
31% of students correctly said that meristem cells in plants can differentiate
throughout the life of the plant.

(d) The majority of students copied sentences from the information given in the
question. There had to be some added value in order to be awarded marks. A fifth of
students scored 1 mark. This was often for saying therapeutic cloning would
produce replacement cells or could treat some diseases. Very few gained 2 marks. A
lot of students confused therapeutic cloning with IVF treatment.

(e) The majority of students copied the sentence about the embryo being destroyed,
which had no added value, and so it was ignored. Those who rephrased this to say
a life is killed or destroyed were awarded a mark. Another common correct response
was that the procedure may not work.

Q2.
(a) 26% of students achieved the mark for saying stem cells are found in meristems or
the tips of roots or shoots. A variety of incorrect organs or tissues were named, the
most common being root, stem, xylem and embryo. Some students named parts of
a cell, such as chloroplast or cytoplasm.

(b) 49% of students correctly identified producing a large number of identical plants as
one economic use of plant stem cells. There was some confusion of genetic
engineering and stem cell technology, as most other students selected to create
genetically modified crops as their answer.

(c) This question was targeted at grades 8−9. 4% of students correctly converted 6
picograms into grams and wrote the answer in standard form.

Some students did not understand the term standard form and gave a number
written in decimal form. This value was usually an incorrect conversion of picograms
to grams. Common incorrect attempts at writing the value in standard form included
6 × 10−6 or 6 × 10−9

(d) 15% of students achieved both marks for calculating the number of hours the cell
spent in mitosis and giving the answer to three significant figures. 20% of students
achieved one mark because they rounded the number incorrectly or gave their
answer in hours and minutes. Many students referred to both 28 and 15 but used an
incorrect calculation or did not realise there are 360° in a circle.

(e) 14% of students achieved more than two marks. The majority of students gained a
mark for stating that the cell would grow during stage 1, or two copies of each
chromosome form. The latter of these events was often included in stage 2, rather

Page 23 of 25
 than stage 1. This error, or if stage numbers were omitted, limited the response to a
maximum of four marks.

Some very good descriptions of mitosis, including spindle formation, were seen.
However, a lot of students did not mention the nucleus dividing. A few students
gained the final mark for saying cytokinesis occurred in stage 3. Few gave the full
description of the cytoplasm or membrane dividing to form two identical cells.

42% of students did not achieve any marks. This was usually because they
described the process of IVF. Some confused the cell cycle with meiosis and
fertilisation.

(f) 31% of students achieved two or more marks.

Marks were generally awarded for advantages, rather than disadvantages. Common
correct advantages given included:

• how stem cells can be used in patients

• diseases stem cells can be used to treat, for example paralysis

• that the cells would not be rejected by patients.

The most common disadvantage mentioned was that an embryo or potential life was
destroyed. Saying the cells were wasted was insufficient.

A lot of students confused the process with that of IVF.

Q3.
(a) Mitochondria were the best known examples of animal cell components. Plasmids
proved a powerful distractor despite only being associated with bacterial cells. 29%
of students achieved full marks.

(b) 51% of students did not make the link needed between mitosis producing new cells
and the need for new cells for repair.

(c) This calculation was quite well attempted, with 41% of students gaining two marks.

(d) This calculation was well attempted, with 48% achieving two marks. 11% of students
did not attempt the question.

(e) 60% of students knew that a muscle body cell would have double the number of
chromosomes found in a sperm cell.

(f) 87% of students were able to name the process of fertilisation.

Q27.

(a) This question was well answered with nucleus being the most common correct label.
The most common error was to mix up chromosome and gene. ‘Gamete’ was
sometimes incorrectly used to label the gene, but ‘characteristic’ was rarely used for
any label.

(b) Once again, with linking boxes the most common error was to have extra lines
drawn. Students should be encouraged to do these in pencil first so they can be

Page 24 of 25
erased. Quite a lot of responses had a characteristic linked to ‘affected by neither
genes nor the environment’, suggesting a lack of understanding. However, most
students gained at least one mark for this question.

Page 25 of 25