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Cell Cycle and Cell Division — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Cell Cycle and Cell Division MCQs with step-by-step solutions covering Cell Cycle & Interphase, Mitosis (M Phase), Significance of Mitosis, Meiosis I, Meiosis II & Significance. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Sample questions with solutions
Q1 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · theory
DNA replication (synthesis) occurs during which phase of interphase?
A. G2 phase
B. M phase
C. S phase ✓ Correct
D. G1 phase
Solution: In the S (synthesis) phase DNA is replicated, doubling the DNA content (2C → 4C) while chromosome number stays the same.
Q2 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · theory
The longest phase of the cell cycle, during which the cell prepares for division, is:
A. Interphase ✓ Correct
B. Cytokinesis
C. Prophase
D. Metaphase
Solution: Interphase (G1, S, G2) occupies most of the cycle; the actual M phase is comparatively short.
Q3 — Mitosis (M Phase) · easy · theory
Chromosomes align at the equatorial plate (metaphase plate) during:
A. Prophase
B. Telophase
C. Metaphase ✓ Correct
D. Anaphase
Solution: In metaphase the condensed chromosomes line up at the equator, attached to spindle fibres by kinetochores.
Q4 — Mitosis (M Phase) · easy · theory
Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles during:
A. Telophase
B. Prophase
C. Metaphase
D. Anaphase ✓ Correct
Solution: In anaphase the centromeres split and sister chromatids (now daughter chromosomes) are pulled to the poles.
Q5 — Significance of Mitosis · easy · theory
Mitosis is also called ______ division because the daughter cells have the same chromosome number as the parent:
A. Equational ✓ Correct
B. Meiotic
C. Amitotic
D. Reductional
Solution: Mitosis is equational — chromosome number is conserved (2n → 2n).
Q6 — Significance of Mitosis · easy · theory
In multicellular organisms, mitosis is essential for:
A. Formation of gametes
B. Genetic recombination
C. Reduction of chromosome number
D. Growth and repair (replacement of cells) ✓ Correct
Solution: Mitosis produces genetically identical cells for growth, repair and, in some organisms, asexual reproduction.
Q7 — Meiosis I · easy · theory
Pairing of homologous chromosomes (synapsis) to form bivalents occurs during:
A. Prophase II
B. Prophase I (zygotene) ✓ Correct
C. Anaphase I
D. Metaphase I
Solution: Homologous chromosomes pair (synapsis) during zygotene of prophase I, forming bivalents/tetrads.
Q8 — Meiosis I · easy · theory
Crossing over — exchange of segments between non-sister chromatids — takes place during the ______ substage of prophase I:
A. Diplotene
B. Pachytene ✓ Correct
C. Leptotene
D. Diakinesis
Solution: Crossing over (recombination) occurs at pachytene, mediated by the recombination nodules on the synaptonemal complex.
Q9 — Meiosis II & Significance · easy · theory
Meiosis II is similar to mitosis in that it involves the separation of:
A. Homologous chromosomes
B. Whole bivalents
C. Nucleoli
D. Sister chromatids ✓ Correct
Solution: Meiosis II is equational — sister chromatids separate, like in mitosis, but starting from haploid cells.
Q10 — Meiosis II & Significance · easy · theory
The total number of haploid cells produced at the end of meiosis (I + II) from one cell is:
A. Two
B. Eight
C. One
D. Four ✓ Correct
Solution: Meiosis yields four haploid daughter cells from a single diploid parent cell.
Q11 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · hard · theory
During G2 phase, the cell:
A. Halves its chromosome number
B. Undergoes cytokinesis
C. Replicates its DNA
D. Synthesises proteins and prepares for mitosis after DNA has replicated ✓ Correct
Solution: In G2 (post-S), the cell grows and makes proteins needed for mitosis; DNA is already doubled.
Q12 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · hard · theory
If a cell has DNA content 2C in G1, its DNA content at the end of S phase and during G2 is:
A. 1C
B. 2C
C. 8C
D. 4C ✓ Correct
Solution: S phase doubles DNA (2C → 4C); it remains 4C through G2 until divided in M phase.
Q13 — Mitosis (M Phase) · hard · theory
Karyokinesis without cytokinesis produces a multinucleate condition called a ______, as in the ______:
A. Spore; anther
B. Syncytium/coenocyte; liquid endosperm ✓ Correct
C. Zygote; ovule
D. Diploid; embryo
Solution: When nuclei divide without cell division, a multinucleate cell (e.g. free-nuclear endosperm) results.
Q14 — Mitosis (M Phase) · hard · theory
The correct sequence of mitotic phases is:
A. Anaphase → Prophase → Metaphase → Telophase
B. Metaphase → Prophase → Telophase → Anaphase
C. Telophase → Anaphase → Metaphase → Prophase
D. Prophase → Metaphase → Anaphase → Telophase ✓ Correct
Solution: Mitosis proceeds P → M → A → T, followed by cytokinesis.
Q15 — Significance of Mitosis · hard · theory
Restoration of the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio is a significance of mitosis because:
A. Cells never divide
B. A growing cell divides to keep its cytoplasm proportional to its nuclear (DNA) content ✓ Correct
C. The nucleus enlarges indefinitely
D. DNA content increases without limit
Solution: As a cell grows the nucleus can control only a limited cytoplasm; mitosis restores an efficient nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio.
Q16 — Significance of Mitosis · hard · theory
Mitosis, being equational, cannot by itself introduce ______, which is essential for evolution:
A. Cell repair
B. DNA replication
C. Growth
D. Genetic variation ✓ Correct
Solution: Mitosis produces genetically identical cells and does not generate variation; meiosis and sexual reproduction do.
Q17 — Meiosis I · hard · theory
The correct sequence of prophase I substages is:
A. Pachytene → Diplotene → Zygotene
B. Leptotene → Zygotene → Pachytene → Diplotene → Diakinesis ✓ Correct
C. Zygotene → Leptotene → Pachytene
D. Diakinesis → Leptotene → Zygotene
Solution: Prophase I: leptotene (condensation) → zygotene (synapsis) → pachytene (crossing over) → diplotene (chiasmata) → diakinesis (terminalisation).
Q18 — Meiosis I · hard · theory
In a cell with 2n = 8, the number of bivalents (tetrads) formed during metaphase I is:
A. 4 ✓ Correct
B. 16
C. 2
D. 8
Solution: Homologues pair up, so the number of bivalents = n = 4 (each bivalent has 2 homologues, 4 chromatids).
Q19 — Meiosis II & Significance · hard · theory
A diploid cell (2n = 4) undergoing meiosis can produce gametes with how many different chromosome combinations, due to independent assortment alone (2^n)?
A. 8
B. 4 (2² ) ✓ Correct
C. 2
D. 16
Solution: With n = 2, independent assortment alone gives 2ⁿ = 2² = 4 combinations (crossing over increases this further).
Q20 — Meiosis II & Significance · hard · theory
The evolutionary significance of meiosis lies in that it:
A. Prevents variation
B. Maintains chromosome number across sexual generations AND generates genetic variation ✓ Correct
C. Is a form of asexual reproduction
D. Doubles the chromosome number each generation
Solution: Halving the chromosome number balances the doubling at fertilisation, keeping the number constant, while recombination provides raw material for evolution.
Q21 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · theory
A cell that has exited the cycle and is in a quiescent (non-dividing) state is said to be in:
A. Prophase
B. S phase
C. G0 phase ✓ Correct
D. G2 phase
Solution: G0 (quiescent) cells (e.g. mature neurons) leave the cycle after G1 and may re-enter under signals.
Q22 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · theory
In a human cell, mitosis (M phase) restores the chromosome number to ______ per daughter cell:
A. 23
B. 69
C. 92
D. 46 (diploid, identical to parent) ✓ Correct
Solution: Mitosis is equational: each daughter gets the same 46 chromosomes as the parent.
Q23 — Mitosis (M Phase) · medium · theory
The disappearance of the nuclear envelope and nucleolus, with condensation of chromatin, occurs in:
A. Telophase
B. Anaphase
C. Metaphase
D. Prophase ✓ Correct
Solution: During prophase chromatin condenses, the spindle begins to form, and the nuclear envelope/nucleolus break down.
Q24 — Mitosis (M Phase) · medium · theory
Cytokinesis in a plant cell occurs by ______, unlike the ______ seen in animal cells:
A. Cell-plate formation; cleavage furrow ✓ Correct
B. Fragmentation; furrowing
C. Cleavage furrow; cell-plate
D. Budding; fission
Solution: Plant cells form a cell plate from the centre outward; animal cells constrict by a cleavage furrow from the periphery.
Q25 — Significance of Mitosis · medium · theory
Mitosis maintains genetic constancy across cell generations because:
A. Cells fuse
B. Chromosome number is halved
C. Crossing over shuffles genes
D. Each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes ✓ Correct
Solution: Exact DNA replication + equal distribution keeps the chromosome number and genotype constant.
Q26 — Significance of Mitosis · medium · theory
In plants, continuous mitotic divisions in ______ account for growth throughout life:
A. Meristematic tissues ✓ Correct
B. Xylem vessels
C. Phloem
D. Cork
Solution: Apical and lateral meristems keep dividing (mitosis), enabling indeterminate plant growth.
Q27 — Meiosis I · medium · theory
The X-shaped points where crossing over has occurred, visible during diplotene, are called:
A. Bivalents
B. Chiasmata ✓ Correct
C. Kinetochores
D. Centromeres
Solution: Chiasmata are the sites of crossover, holding homologues together until anaphase I.
Q28 — Meiosis I · medium · theory
The reduction in chromosome number from diploid to haploid occurs in meiosis I because:
A. Sister chromatids separate
B. Cells fuse
C. DNA replicates again
D. Homologous chromosomes (not sister chromatids) separate ✓ Correct
Solution: Anaphase I separates homologous chromosomes to opposite poles — hence meiosis I is the reductional division.
Q29 — Meiosis II & Significance · medium · theory
Between meiosis I and meiosis II, DNA replication:
A. Occurs again
B. Occurs twice
C. Does NOT occur (no S phase in interkinesis) ✓ Correct
D. Occurs only in males
Solution: Interkinesis is short with no DNA synthesis, so meiosis II directly separates the already-duplicated chromatids.
Q30 — Meiosis II & Significance · medium · theory
Genetic variation among gametes produced by meiosis arises mainly from:
A. Crossing over and independent assortment of chromosomes ✓ Correct
B. DNA replication errors only
C. Mitosis
D. Cytokinesis
Solution: Recombination (crossing over) and random (independent) assortment of homologues in metaphase I generate variation.