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The diagram shows a cell during one stage of mitosis - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 17 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 17
The diagram shows a cell during one stage of mitosis. (i) Describe two things that happen to the chromosomes in the next stage of mitosis. (ii) Chromosomes are mad... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows a cell during one stage of mitosis - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 17 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe two things that happen to the chromosomes in the next stage of mitosis.
Answer
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The chromosomes will separate and move towards opposite poles of the cell. This is facilitated by the spindle fibers that pull them apart.
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The chromatids will begin to condense as the cell progresses through mitosis, making them easier to separate accurately during cell division.
Step 2
Describe the structure of DNA.
Answer
DNA has a double helix structure, resembling a twisted ladder. Each side of the ladder is made up of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups, while the rungs consist of pairs of nitrogenous bases (adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine). This structure allows for the stability and replication of genetic information.
Step 3
What is meant by the term cell differentiation?
Answer
Cell differentiation refers to the process by which a stem cell or unspecialized cell becomes specialized to perform a specific function. This often involves changes in gene expression, leading to diverse cell types, each adapted to perform particular roles within an organism.