Chapter 12 Practice questions
A particular cell has half as much DNA as some other cells in a mitotically active tissue. The cell in question is most likely in A) G₁. B) G₂. C) prophase. D) metaphase. E) anaphase.
a
At the M phase checkpoint, the complex allows for what to occur? A) Separase enzyme cleaves cohesins and allows chromatids to separate. B) Cohesins alter separase to allow chromatids to separate. C) Kinetochores are able to bind to spindle microtubules. D) All microtubules are made to bind to kinetochores. E) Daughter cells are allowed to pass into G
a
During which phase of mitosis do the chromatids become chromosomes? A) telophase B) anaphase C) prophase D) metaphase E) cytokinesis
a
If there are 20 centromeres in a cell at anaphase, how many chromosomes are there in each daughter cell following cytokinesis? A) 10 B) 20 C) 30 D) 40 E) 80
a
In the cells of some organisms, mitosis occurs without cytokinesis. This will result in A) cells with more than one nucleus. B) cells that are unusually small. C) cells lacking nuclei. D) destruction of chromosomes. E) cell cycles lacking an S phase.
a
The MPF protein complex turns itself off by A) activating a process that destroys cyclin components. B) activating an enzyme that stimulates cyclin. C) binding to chromatin. D) exiting the cell. E) activating the anaphase-promoting complex.
a
The centromere is a region in which A) chromatids remain attached to one another until anaphase. B) metaphase chromosomes become aligned at the metaphase plate. C) chromosomes are grouped during telophase. D) the nucleus is located prior to mitosis. E) new spindle microtubules form at either end.
a
Vinblastine is a standard chemotherapeutic drug used to treat cancer. Because it interferes with the assembly of microtubules, its effectiveness must be related to A) disruption of mitotic spindle formation. B) inhibition of regulatory protein phosphorylation. C) suppression of cyclin production. D) myosin denaturation and inhibition of cleavage furrow formation. E) inhibition of DNA synthesis.
a
Which of the following is released by platelets in the vicinity of an injury? A) PDGF B) MPF C) protein kinase D) cyclin E) Cdk
a
f there are 20 chromatids in a cell, how many centromeres are there? A) 10 B) 20 C) 30 D) 40 E) 80
a
A research team began a study of a cultured cell line. Their preliminary observations showed them that the cell line did not exhibit either density-dependent inhibition or anchorage dependence. What could they conclude right away? A) The cells originated in the nervous system. B) The cells are unable to form spindle microtubules. C) They have altered series of cell cycle phases. D) The cells show characteristics of tumors. E) They were originally derived from an elderly organism.
d
If cells in the process of dividing are subjected to colchicine, a drug that interferes with the formation of the spindle apparatus, at which stage will mitosis be arrested? A) anaphase B) prophase C) telophase D) metaphase E) interphase
d
Movement of the chromosomes during anaphase would be most affected by a drug that A) reduces cyclin concentrations. B) increases cyclin concentrations. C) prevents elongation of microtubules. D) prevents shortening of microtubules. E) prevents attachment of the microtubules to the kinetochore.
d
Starting with a fertilized egg (zygote), a series of five cell divisions would produce an early embryo with how many cells? A) 4 B) 8 C) 16 D) 32 E) 64
d
A mutation results in a cell that no longer produces a normal protein kinase for the M phase checkpoint. Which of the following would likely be the immediate result of this mutation? A) The cell would prematurely enter anaphase. B) The cell would never leave metaphase. C) The cell would never enter metaphase. D) The cell would never enter prophase. E) The cell would undergo normal mitosis, but fail to enter the next G₁ phase.
e
A student is looking through his light microscope (~450 X) at a squashed and stained onion root tip. Some, but not all, of the cells have clearly visible chromosome strands. 71) When the cell has just completed telophase, which of the following does he see? A) a clear area in the center of the cell B) chromosomes clustered at the poles C) individual chromatids separating D) formation of vesicles at the midline E) two small cells with chromatin
e
All cell cycle checkpoints are similar in which way? A) They respond to the same cyclins. B) They utilize the same Cdks. C) They give the go-ahead signal to progress to the next checkpoint. D) They each have only one cyclin/Cdk complex. E) They activate or inactivate other proteins.
e
At which phase are centrioles beginning to move apart in animal cells? A) telophase B) anaphase C) prometaphase D) metaphase E) prophase
e
Proteins that are involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, and that show fluctuations in concentration during the cell cycle, are called A) ATPases. B) kinetochores. C) kinases. D) proton pumps. E) cyclins.
e
The cyclin component of MPF is destroyed toward the end of which phase? A) G₀ B) G₁ C) S D) G₂ E) M
e
The drug cytochalasin B blocks the function of actin. Which of the following aspects of the cell cycle would be most disrupted by cytochalasin B? A) spindle formation B) spindle attachment to kinetochores C) DNA synthesis D) cell elongation during anaphase E) cleavage furrow formation and cytokinesis Answer: E
e
Which of the following describe(s) cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)? A) Cdk is inactive, or "turned off," in the presence of cyclin. B) Cdk is present throughout the cell cycle. C) Cdk is an enzyme that attaches phosphate groups to other proteins. D) Cdk is inactive, or "turned off," in the presence of cyclin and it is present throughout the cell cycle. E) Cdk is present throughout the cell cycle and is an enzyme that attaches phosphate groups to other proteins.
e
Which of the following is a protein maintained at constant levels throughout the cell cycle that requires cyclin to become catalytically active? A) PDGF B) MPF C) protein kinase D) cyclin E) Cdk
e
After which checkpoint is the cell first committed to continue the cell cycle through M? A) G₀ B) G₁ C) G₂ D) S E) previous M
b
Density-dependent inhibition is explained by which of the following? A) As cells become more numerous, they begin to squeeze against each other, restricting their size and ability to produce control factors. B) As cells become more numerous, the cell surface proteins of one cell contact the adjoining cells and they stop dividing. C) As cells become more numerous, the protein kinases they produce begin to compete with each other, such that the proteins produced by one cell essentially cancel those produced by its neighbor. D) As cells become more numerous, more and more of them enter the S phase of the cell cycle. E) As cells become more numerous, the level of waste products increases, eventually slowing down metabolism.
b
Through a microscope, you can see a cell plate beginning to develop across the middle of a cell and nuclei forming on either side of the cell plate. This cell is most likely A) an animal cell in the process of cytokinesis. B) a plant cell in the process of cytokinesis. C) an animal cell in the S phase of the cell cycle. D) a bacterial cell dividing. E) a plant cell in metaphase.
b
Where do the microtubules of the spindle originate during mitosis in both plant and animal cells? A) centromere B) centrosome C) centriole D) chromatid E) kinetochore
b
Which of the following are primarily responsible for cytokinesis in plant cells but not in animal cells? A) kinetochores B) Golgi-derived vesicles C) actin and myosin D) centrioles and centromeres E) cyclin-dependent kinases
b
Which of the following does not occur during mitosis? A) condensation of the chromosomes B) replication of the DNA C) separation of sister chromatids D) spindle formation E) separation of the spindle poles
b
Which of the following triggers the cell's passage past the G₂ checkpoint into mitosis? A) PDGF B) MPF C) protein kinase D) cyclin E) Cdk
b
Why do chromosomes coil during mitosis? A) to increase their potential energy B) to allow the chromosomes to move without becoming entangled and breaking C) to allow the chromosomes to fit within the nuclear envelope D) to allow the sister chromatids to remain attached E) to provide for the structure of the centromere
b
A particular cyclin called cyclin E forms a complex with Cdk 2 (cyclin-dependent kinase 2). This complex is important for the progression of the cell from G₁ into the S phase of the cell cycle. Which of the following statements is correct? A) The amount of free cyclin E is greatest during the S phase. B) The amount of free Cdk 2 is greater during G₁ compared to the S phase. C) The amount of free cyclin E is highest during G₁. D) The amount of free Cdk 2 is greatest during G₁. E) The activity of the cyclin E/Cdk 2 complex is highest during G₂.
c
Besides the ability of some cancer cells to overproliferate, what else could logically result in a tumor? A) metastasis B) changes in the order of cell cycle stages C) lack of appropriate cell death D) inability to form spindles E) inability of chromosomes to meet at the metaphase plate
c
Cells from an advanced malignant tumor most often have very abnormal chromosomes, and often an abnormal total number of chromosomes. Why might this occur? A) Cancer cells are no longer density dependent. B) Cancer cells are no longer anchorage dependent. C) Chromosomally abnormal cells can still go through cell cycle checkpoints. D) Chromosomally abnormal cells still have normal metabolism. E) Transformation introduces new chromosomes into cells.
c
For anaphase to begin, which of the following must occur? A) Chromatids must lose their kinetochores. B) Cohesin must attach the sister chromatids to each other. C) Cohesin must be cleaved enzymatically. D) Kinetochores must attach to the metaphase plate. E) Spindle microtubules must begin to depolymerize.
c
One difference between cancer cells and normal cells is that cancer cells A) are unable to synthesize DNA. B) are arrested at the S phase of the cell cycle. C) continue to divide even when they are tightly packed together. D) cannot function properly because they are affected by density-dependent inhibition. E) are always in the M phase of the cell cycle
c
The decline of MPF activity at the end of mitosis is due to A) the destruction of the protein kinase Cdk. B) decreased synthesis of Cdk. C) the degradation of cyclin. D) the accumulation of cyclin. E) synthesis of DNA.
c
What is a cleavage furrow? A) a ring of vesicles forming a cell plate B) the separation of divided prokaryotes C) a groove in the plasma membrane between daughter nuclei D) the metaphase plate where chromosomes attach to the spindle E) the space that is created between two chromatids during anaphase
c
Why do neurons and some other specialized cells divide infrequently? A) They no longer have active nuclei. B) They no longer carry receptors for signal molecules. C) They have been shunted into G₀. D) They can no longer bind Cdk to cyclin. E) They show a drop in MPF concentration.
c
Suppose a biologist can separate one of a dozen pieces of chromatin from a eukaryotic (animal) nucleus. It might consist of which of the following? A) one-twelfth of the genes of the organism B) two chromosomes, each with six chromatids C) a single circular piece of DNA D) two long strands of DNA plus proteins E) two chromatids attached together at a centromere
d
What causes the decrease in the amount of cyclin at a specific point in the cell cycle? A) an increase in production once the restriction point is passed B) the cascade of increased production once its protein is phosphorylated by Cdk C) the changing ratio of cytoplasm to genome D) its destruction by a process initiated by the activity of its complex with a cyclin E) the binding of PDGF to receptors on the cell surface
d
Which of the following best describes how chromosomes move toward the poles of the spindle during mitosis? A) The chromosomes are "reeled in" by the contraction of spindle microtubules. B) Motor proteins of the kinetochores move the chromosomes along the spindle microtubules. C) Nonkinetochore spindle fibers serve to push chromosomes in the direction of the poles. D) The chromosomes are "reeled in" by the contraction of spindle microtubules, and motor proteins of the kinetochores move the chromosomes along the spindle microtubules. E) The chromosomes are "reeled in" by the contraction of spindle microtubules, motor proteins of the kinetochores move the chromosomes along the spindle microtubules, and nonkinetochore spindle fibers serve to push chromosomes in the direction of the poles.
d
Which of the following is a function of those spindle microtubules that do not attach to kinetochores? A) maintaining an appropriate spacing among the moving chromosomes B) producing a cleavage furrow when telophase is complete C) providing the ATP needed by the fibers attached to kinetochores D) maintaining the region of overlap of microtubules in the cell's center E) pulling the poles of the spindles closer to one another
d
Which of the following is a protein synthesized at specific times during the cell cycle that associates with a kinase to form a catalytically active complex? A) PDGF B) MPF C) protein kinase D) cyclin E) Cdk
d
Which of the following most accurately describes a cyclin? A) It is present in similar concentrations throughout the cell cycle. B) It is activated to phosphorylate by complexing with a Cdk. C) It decreases in concentration when MPF activity increases. D) It activates a Cdk molecule when it is in sufficient concentration. E) It activates a Cdk when its concentration is decreased.
d
Which of the following is true concerning cancer cells? A) They do not exhibit density-dependent inhibition when growing in culture. B) When they stop dividing, they do so at random points in the cell cycle. C) They are not subject to cell cycle controls. D) When they stop dividing, they do so at random points in the cell cycle, and they are not subject to cell cycle controls. E) When they stop dividing, they do so at random points in the cell cycle; they are not subject to cell cycle controls; and they do not exhibit density-dependent inhibition when growing in culture.
e
