Cell Cycle

Question 1

What is the cell cycle?

Answer 1

A highly ordered sequence of events that take place in a cell, resulting in the division of the cell and the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells

Question 2

What happens during interphase? (5)

Answer 2

• DNA is replicated and checked for errors
• Protein synthesis
• Mitochondria grow and divide
• Chloroplasts grow and divide
• Normal metabolic processes

Question 3

What happens during the G1 phase? (2)

Answer 3

• Organelles synthesised and replicate

- Cell increases in size

Question 4

What happens during the S phase? (2)

Answer 4

• Synthesis phase

- DNA is replicated in the nucleus

Question 5

What happens during the G2 phase? (3)

Answer 5

• Cells continue to grow in size
• Energy stores are increased
• Duplicated DNA is checked for errors

Question 6

What is the G0 phase? (3)

Answer 6

• Cell leaves the cycle temporarily or permanently
• For differentiation
• May be because the cell is damaged

Question 7

What are checkpoints?

Answer 7

The control mechanisms of the cell cycle

Question 8

What happens at the G1 checkpoint? (5)

Answer 8

At the end of the G1 phase.
Check for:
- Cell size
- Nutrients
- Growth factors
- DNA damage

If everything is clear, it moves onto the next stage

Question 9

What happens at the G2 checkpoint?

Answer 9

At the end of G2 phase.
Check for:
- Cell size
- DNA replication
- DNA damage

If everything is clear it moves onto the next stage

Question 10

What happens at the spindle assembly checkpoint?

Answer 10

Check for:

- Chromosome attachment to spindle