Quiz Yourself: Mitosis Practice Problems

One of the best study skills is to review practice exam-style questions to help you prepare for you next big exam. It is important to study the type and style of questions you anticipate seeing on your upcoming exam.

Is your professor a fan of multiple choice? Or do you anticipate more essay-style questions on your upcoming test? Either way, make sure your preparation mimics the style you expect to be receiving.

Following our mitosis blog post yesterday, check out the following practice exam questions to test your knowledge and identify areas you excel in and those you need study more.

---

Multiple Choice Questions

1. During which phase of mitosis do sister chromatids separate and move toward opposite poles of the cell?
   a) Prophase
   b) Metaphase
   c) Anaphase
   d) Telophase

2. What structure is responsible for organizing and separating chromosomes during mitosis?
   a) Golgi apparatus
   b) Spindle fibers
   c) Ribosomes
   d) Mitochondria

3. Which of the following correctly describes the chromosome number in daughter cells after mitosis?
   a) They have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
   b) They have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
   c) They have twice the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
   d) They have a variable number of chromosomes.

4. What occurs during metaphase of mitosis?
   a) The nuclear envelope re-forms around chromosomes.
   b) Chromosomes align along the metaphase plate.
   c) DNA replication takes place.
   d) The cytoplasm begins to divide.

5. In which stage of mitosis does chromatin condense into visible chromosomes?
   a) Prophase
   b) Metaphase
   c) Anaphase
   d) Cytokinesis

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the role of centrioles in animal cell mitosis.

2. How does mitosis differ from meiosis in terms of genetic variation and number of daughter cells produced?

3. What would happen if a cell skipped anaphase during mitosis?

4. Why is it important for the mitotic spindle to attach correctly to chromosomes before anaphase?

5. Describe the significance of cytokinesis and how it differs in plant and animal cells.

---

Check back tomorrow for answers and explanations!