Class 10th biology

Answer key chapter-cell cycle, cell division and

structure of chromosomes
Q12. Discuss the significance of mitosis and meiosis?
Ans-: Significance of mitosis:
A.Maintenance of chromosome number:
Mitosis keeps the number of chromosomes equal
and constant in all the body cells of an organism.
B. Maintenance of cell size:
Mitosis helps to maintain the size of the cell
constant.
C. Growth: Every multicellular Organism be it an
alga a warm a mango tree or human being, starts
its life as a single cell that is zygote which
undergoes repeated mitotic division to produce
billions and trillions of cell.
Significance of meiosis:
A.Reproduction-: Meiosis takes place during the
formation of gametes or sex cells. It takes place
inside the reproductive organs ( testis and ovary )
in animals to produce sperms and ova. In
flowering plants it takes place in anthers to
produce pollen grains and ovules to produce
eggs.
B. Maintenance of chromosome number constant-:
In gametes the chromosome number is halved
so that on fertilisation the normal diploid
number (2n) is restored.
 C. Variations-: Crossing over during meiosis helps in
the formation of recombinations or variations.
D.Evolution-: The formation of new species from
pre-existing ones by modifications in them is
called evolution. Variations are produced during
meiosis and these variations are the cause of
evolution.
E. Crossing over-: Crossing over is the phenomenon
of mutual exchange of corresponding parts of
non-sister chromatids which results in the
formation of chiasmata . This chiasmata provides
in numerable variations in the progeny due to
which children of the same parents are different
from each other in certain respects.
Q.13. Select the most appropriate option out of the
four given at the end of each question-:
i) A cell has 5 pairs of chromosomes. After mitotic
division, the number of chromosomes in daughter cell
will be .
a) 5 b) 10 c) 20 d) 40
Ans-; option b- 10 chromosomes
ii) The points where two non- sister chromatids cross
over are called:
a) Chiasmata b) centromere c) chromatids
d) centromeres
Ans-: option a- chiasmata
iii) The point where two sister chromatids of a
chromosome are attached is known as -:
 a) Chiasmata b) centromere c) chromomeres
d) homotypic
Ans-: option b- centromere
iv) Which of the following is known as post- mitotic
phase?
a) G1-phase b) G2- phase c) M-phase d)
None of these
Ans-: option a - G1-phase
v) Duplication of chromatin material takes place
during
a) G1-phase b) G2- phase c) S-phase d) M-phase
Ans-: option c – S phase
vi) Which of the following is reductional division?
a) Meiosis-I b) Meiosis-II c) Mitosis d)
Interphase
Ans-; Option a- Meiosis-I
Q14. Explain the structure of an eukaryotic
chromosome.
Ans-: During metaphase each chromosome consists of
two exactly similar rods called chromatids.
• The chromatids are joined together at a point
called centromere or primary constriction.
• In each chromatid is present a highly coiled
thread of DNA and proteins called chromonema.
• The chromonema is surrounded by matrix which
is covered by a covering called pellicle.
• Some chromosomes possess a small fragment or
knob like structure called satellite or secondary
 constriction. Such chromosomes are known as
SAT CHROMOSOMES
• The rounded tip of a Eukaryotic chromosome are
known as telomeres.

Q15. Why is cell division necessary?

Ans-: Cell division is necessary because-:
1. Maintenance of chromosome number:
Mitosis keeps the number of chromosomes equal
and constant in all the body cells of an organism.
2. Maintenance of cell size:
Mitosis helps to maintain the size of the cell
constant.
3. Growth: Every multicellular Organism be it an
alga a warm a mango tree or human being, starts
its life as a single cell that is zygote which
undergoes repeated mitotic division to produce
billions and trillions of cell.
4. Embryonic development-:
In living organisms the process of development of
embryo takes place by mitosis
5. Regeneration-:
The lost parts may be organs or tissues in certain
organisms, are re-formed by the division of cells.
 For instance, the tail broken by a wall lizard in
self defence is re-formed within few days by the
division of the cells from where the tail is broken.

Q16. A) The diagram given below represents a certain

phenomenon occurs during meiosis-:
i) Name the phenomenon.- Crossing over
ii) Define the phenomenon- Crossing over is the
mutual exchange of corresponding parts of
non-sister chromatids during the pachytene
stage of meiosis-1
iii) State the difference between chromosome and
chromatid-:
Chromosome Chromatid
1. Chromosomes are Chromatids are the
the shortened two rod like
thickened structure structure joint at a
present in the point called
nucleus of dividing centromere in
cell which are the chromosome.
carriers of heredity
units.
b) Give one point difference between the following
pairs on the basis of what is indicated in brackets-
:
i) Metacentric and Telocentric (centromere)
 Metacentric Telocentric
1. In metacentric In telocentric
chromosome, the chromosome, the
centromere is centromere is present
present in the at one end of the
centre chromosome.
ii) Centromere and Telomere ( location)
Centromere Telomere
1. Centromere is the Telomere is the
point of attachment of rounded tip of the
two arms of a chromosome.
chromosome.
iii) Maternal and Paternal chromosomes
(source)
Maternal Paternal chromosome
chromosome
1. Maternal Paternal chromosome
chromosome is is chromosome
chromosome shared shared by the male
by the female parent parent
iv) Allosome and Autosome (function)
Allosome Autosome
1. Allosome chromosomes Autosome
are the chromosomes chromosomes
that determines the determines the
sex of an individual in features or body
sexually reproducing characters of an
organisms. individual.
Q17. A) The diagram given below represents a stage
of a cell:

i) Name the stage-: Anaphase

ii) Is it a plant cell or animal cell? Give a logic
reason.
Ans-: It is a plant cell because
• Asters are absent
• Cell plate is formed.
iii) Label the parts 1-4
1. Centromere
2. Chromatids
3. Cell plate
4. Spindle fibre
B ) Draw a well labelled diagram of metaphasic
chromosome

.
Q18. Given below is a diagram representing a stage
during mitotic cell division in an animal cell:
i) Identify the above stage . Give a reason to
support your answer:
Late prophase:
• Nuclear membrane and nucleolus completely
disappears.
• Asters reach the opposite poles which further
develops proteinaceous spindle fibres to which
chromosomes are attached with the help of
centromere in a hap-hazard manner.
ii) Name the cell organelle that forms the aster-:
Centrioles
iii) Name the parts labelled 1,2 and 3
1. Centromere
2. Chromatids
3. Spindle fibres
iv) Name the stage that follows this stage of
mitosis. How can this stage be identified?
Ans-: Metaphase
• Chromosomes shows peculiar movement and
arrange themselves on the equator forming
equatorial or metaphasic plate.
v) Mention two points of difference between
mitosis and meiosis with regard to
1) The number of daughter cells formed.
2) The chromosome number in the daughter cells
Mitosis Meiosis
1. Two daughter cells Four daughter
are formed cells are formed
 2. Number of Number of
chromosomes chromosomes are
remains same as reduced to half as
that in parent cell. that in parent cell.
Q19. Differentiate between:
a) Karyokinesis and cytokinesis ( explain the terms)
Karyokinesis Cytokinesis
1. Karyokinesis is division Cytokinesis is
of nucleus division of
cytoplasm
b) Mitosis and meiosis ( Number of daughter cells
formed)
Mitosis Meiosis
Two daughter cells Four daughter
are formed cells are formed

C) Differentiate between Tonoplast and plasma

membrane (location)
Tonoplast Plasma membrane
1. Tonoplast is a Plasma membrane
membrane surrounding is the membrane
the vacuole. surrounding the
cytoplasm of the
cell.

Q20. Give reason for the following -:

Gametes have a haploid number of chromosomes.
Ans-: Gametes are formed by the process of
gametogenesis that involves meiosis which is a
reductional division and results in the formation of
haploid gametes i.e sperms in males and ova in
females. These gametes undergoes fertilization and
forms diploid zygote . So , in order to restore original
number of chromosomes in zygote gametes have
haploid number of chromosomes

Q21. Choose the correct answer-;

Duplicated chromosomes are joined at a point termed
( centrosome, centromere, centriole , chromatid).
Ans-: centromere
Q22. Match the column A with column B-:

Ans-:

Q23. Answer the following-:

i) Draw a neat labelled diagram to show the
metaphase stage of mitosis in an animal cell
having four chromosomes.

ii) How many daughter cells are formed at the end

of mitosis and at the end of meiosis?

Mitosis Meiosis
Two daughter cells Four daughter
are formed cells are formed
 iii) With reference to cell division explain the
following terms/:
• Chromatids-: Chromatids are the two exactly
similar rod like structure of a chromosome.
• Centromere-: Centromere is the point on
chromosome where two chromatids of each
chromosome are attached.
• Haploid-: Haploid cell is a cell having one set of
chromosome. Represented as ‘n’.
iv) Name the type of cell division that occurs
during -:
1. Growth of shoot- Mitosis
2. Formation of pollen grains-: meiosis
3. Repair of worn out tissues-: mitosis
Q24. Write the following in a logical sequence-:
i) Interphase, Anaphase, Prophase, Telophase,
Metaphase
( Sequential stage in karyokinesis)
Ans-: Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase , Anaphase ,
Telophase
ii) Metaphase, telophase, prophase , anaphase
Ans-: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase
iii) Karyokinesis, S-phase, cytokinesis, G1-Phase,
G2-Phase (cell cycle)
Ans-: G1-Phase, S-phase, G2-Phase, karyokinesis,
cytokinesis
Q25. Draw a diagram of the nucleus of a cell , having
chromosome number 6, as it would appear in the
Metaphase stage of Mitosis and label the following
parts in the diagram-:
1) Aster 2) Achromatic spindle 3) Chromatid 4)
Centromere

Ans-:
Q26. State true or false-:
Ans-:

Q27. Give the a) specific function of centrosome-

Centrosome initiated cell division in animal cell.
b)Exact location of centrosome- Centrosome is
present near the nucleus in animal cell.