Cell Cycle & Interphase — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Cell Cycle & Interphase MCQs with step-by-step solutions (92 questions). Part of Cell Cycle and Cell Division. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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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 — 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.
Q4 — 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.
Q5 — 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.
Q6 — 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.
Q7 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · numerical
In a typical human cell dividing once in approximately 24 hours, roughly how long does the M phase (mitosis) last compared with interphase?
A. M phase occupies about 9 hours, the same as the S phase
B. M phase and interphase are of nearly equal duration, about 12 hours each
C. M phase lasts about 19 hours while interphase is completed in a few minutes
D. M phase lasts only about an hour, while interphase occupies more than 95% of the cycle ✓ Correct
Solution: In a 24-hour human cell cycle, cell division (M phase) lasts only about an hour, while interphase accounts for more than 95% of the duration.
Q8 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · numerical
Which of the following correctly gives the approximate durations of the interphase sub-phases in a 24-hour human cell cycle?
A. G1 ~ 8 h, S ~ 1 h, G2 ~ 14 h
B. G1 ~ 11 h, S ~ 8 h, G2 ~ 4 h ✓ Correct
C. G1 ~ 2 h, S ~ 19 h, G2 ~ 2 h
D. G1 ~ 4 h, S ~ 4 h, G2 ~ 15 h
Solution: Of the ~23 hours of interphase, G1 is the longest (~11 h), S phase ~8 h and G2 ~4 h, with M phase taking about 1 h.
Q9 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · numerical
Cells such as mature neurons that have exited the cell cycle and no longer divide are said to be arrested in the G0 stage. Which statement about G0 is correct?
A. G0 cells contain 4C DNA and are poised to enter mitosis immediately
B. G0 cells are metabolically inactive and have their DNA already replicated
C. G0 cells are permanently in S phase, continuously replicating DNA without dividing
D. G0 cells are metabolically active but do not proliferate, having withdrawn from the cycle at G1 ✓ Correct
Solution: The quiescent G0 stage is entered from G1; such cells remain metabolically active and functional but stop dividing, and their DNA is unreplicated (2C).
Q10 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy · numerical
In which broad stage of the cell cycle does the cell spend most of its time, growing and duplicating its DNA and organelles in preparation for division?
A. Cytokinesis
B. Anaphase
C. Interphase ✓ Correct
D. Prophase
Solution: Interphase, the phase between two successive M phases, is where the cell grows and replicates its DNA; it occupies the great majority of the cycle.
Q11 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
Consider the following statements about interphase and select the correct combination:
(i) DNA amount doubles during S phase but the number of chromosomes does not change.
(ii) In animal cells, centriole duplication also occurs during the S phase.
(iii) G2 involves synthesis of proteins in preparation for mitosis while DNA is being replicated.
A. Only (ii) and (iii) are correct
B. Only (i) and (ii) are correct ✓ Correct
C. Only (i) and (iii) are correct
D. All three statements are correct
Solution: During S phase DNA doubles (2C to 4C) without a change in chromosome number, and centriole duplication also occurs then. G2 involves protein synthesis but DNA replication is already complete, so (iii) is wrong.
Q12 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
A cell in G2 phase has a nuclear DNA content of 4C. If this cell completes mitosis, the DNA content and chromosome number of each daughter cell relative to the original G1 cell will be:
A. DNA content 1C and chromosome number halved
B. DNA content 2C and chromosome number unchanged (same as the G1 parent) ✓ Correct
C. DNA content 4C and chromosome number doubled
D. DNA content 2C and chromosome number halved
Solution: Mitosis is equational: a 4C G2 cell divides into two daughter cells, each with 2C DNA and the same chromosome number as the original G1 cell.
Q13 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
The cell cycle has checkpoints that ensure faithful division. The G2/M checkpoint primarily verifies that:
A. DNA replication is complete and any DNA damage is repaired before mitosis begins ✓ Correct
B. Sister chromatids have already separated to opposite poles
C. Chromosomes are correctly attached to spindle fibres at the metaphase plate
D. The cell is large enough and conditions are favourable to begin DNA synthesis
Solution: The G2/M checkpoint checks that DNA replication has been completed accurately and damage repaired before the cell commits to mitosis; spindle attachment is monitored later at the metaphase (spindle) checkpoint.
Q14 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
Which sequence correctly represents the phases of one complete cell cycle beginning from a newly formed cell?
A. S to G1 to M to G2
B. G1 to G2 to S to M
C. M to G2 to S to G1
D. G1 to S to G2 to M ✓ Correct
Solution: A cell newly formed after division enters G1, then S (DNA synthesis), then G2, then M phase, completing the cycle.
Q15 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
Yeast cells can complete their entire cell cycle in about 90 minutes. This is possible mainly because:
A. Yeast lacks a nucleus, so it needs no interphase
B. Yeast divides only by meiosis, which is faster than mitosis
C. Yeast cells skip DNA replication entirely and only undergo karyokinesis
D. The duration of the cycle varies between organisms and cell types, with some phases greatly shortened ✓ Correct
Solution: Cell cycle duration differs among organisms and cell types; yeast can complete the whole cycle in about 90 minutes, far shorter than a human cell, because its phases are compressed.
Q16 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium · numerical
A cell is exposed to a chemical that blocks DNA polymerase and thus prevents DNA replication. At which point will the cell cycle be arrested, and with what DNA content?
A. Arrested in G1 phase with 4C DNA content
B. Arrested in S phase with DNA content between 2C and 4C, unable to reach G2 ✓ Correct
C. Arrested in anaphase with 1C DNA content
D. Arrested at the end of G2 with fully doubled 4C DNA
Solution: Blocking DNA replication stalls the cell in S phase; DNA is only partly replicated, so the content lies between 2C and 4C and the cell cannot progress to G2.
Q17 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
All organisms, even the largest, start their life from
A. Both (1) and (2) ✓ Correct
B. A single cell
C. Embryo
D. Zygote
Solution: Life begins from a single cell, the zygote, so both (1) and (2) are correct.
Q18 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
Cell division is a very important process in
A. Plants and animal
B. Some non-cellular organisms
C. Only acellular organisms
D. All living organisms ✓ Correct
Solution: Cell division is a fundamental, universal process occurring in all living organisms.
Q19 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
During cell cycle, the DNA synthesis occurs how many times?
A. Twice
B. Once ✓ Correct
C. All the time
D. Many times
Solution: DNA is synthesised (replicated) only once per cell cycle, during the S-phase.
Q20 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium
Cell growth is a continuous process in terms of
A. increase in DNA content
B. increase in protein content
C. increase in total cellular contents
D. cytoplasmic increase ✓ Correct
Solution: Cell growth (increase in cytoplasm) is continuous, whereas DNA synthesis is confined to S-phase.
Q21 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
The cell cycle of a mammalian cell and yeast, respectively, takes about
A. 24 hrs, 90 min ✓ Correct
B. 60 min each
C. 90 min, 24 hrs
D. 30 min, 24 days
Solution: A typical human (mammalian) cell cycle lasts about 24 hours while yeast takes about 90 minutes.
Q22 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
Two basic stages of cell cycle are
A. interphase and M-phase/divisional phase ✓ Correct
B. G1, S and G2-phases
C. karyokinesis and cytokinesis
D. prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
Solution: The cell cycle is broadly divided into interphase and the M-phase (divisional phase).
Q23 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
The interphase is divided into three phases, namely
A. G1-phase, M-phase and G2-phase
B. M-phase, S-phase and divisional phase
C. M-phase, G-phase and divisional phase
D. G1-phase, synthesis phase and G2-phase ✓ Correct
Solution: Interphase comprises G1-phase, S (synthesis) phase and G2-phase.
Q24 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
The phase between two successive M-phases is called
A. Interphase ✓ Correct
B. S-phase
C. G2-phase
D. G1-phase
Solution: The interval between two successive M-phases is the interphase.
Q25 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
What is the approximate percentage duration of the cycle that comes under interphase in humans?
A. 5%
B. 95% ✓ Correct
C. 100%
D. 25%
Solution: Interphase occupies about 95% of the total duration of the cell cycle in humans.
Q26 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
In M-phase, the division of nucleus is called as
A. cytokinesis
B. nucleokinesis
C. diakinesis
D. karyokinesis ✓ Correct
Solution: Nuclear division during M-phase is termed karyokinesis.
Q27 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
In M-phase, the division of cytoplasm is
A. diakinesis
B. cytodivision
C. None of these
D. cytokinesis ✓ Correct
Solution: Division of the cytoplasm is called cytokinesis.
Q28 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · medium
Which of the following phases of cell cycle is known as the resting phase?
A. Interphase ✓ Correct
B. M-phase
C. G1-phase
D. S-Phase
Solution: As per the key, interphase is marked as the resting phase since no division occurs then.
Q29 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
In which phase of cell cycle does DNA content get doubled?
A. Interphase ✓ Correct
B. Prophase
C. Anaphase
D. Telophase
Solution: DNA replicates during the S-phase of interphase, doubling the DNA content.
Q30 — Cell Cycle & Interphase · easy
The correct sequence of phases of cell cycle is
A. S -> G1 -> G2 -> M
B. G1 -> G2 -> S -> M
C. M -> G1 -> G2 -> S
D. G1 -> S -> G2 -> M ✓ Correct
Solution: The cell cycle proceeds in the order G1 -> S -> G2 -> M.