SOLUTION: Grade 8 cell cycle worksheet - Studypool - Free Printable

Here are the answers to the questions on the worksheet, based on the diagrams and standard biology concepts.

1. Cells A & F show an early and a late stage of the same phase of the cell cycle. What phase is it?
Prophase
*(Reasoning: In both cells, the chromosomes are visible and condensing, and the nuclear envelope is breaking down. Cell A is early prophase, and Cell F is late prophase/prometaphase.)*

2. Which cell is in metaphase?
C
*(Reasoning: The chromosomes are lined up perfectly across the middle (equator) of the cell.)*

3. Which cell is in the first phase of M phase (mitosis)?
A
*(Reasoning: Prophase is the first stage of mitosis, and Cell A shows the earliest signs of chromosome condensation.)*

4. In cell A, what structure is labeled X?
Centriole (or Centrosome)
*(Reasoning: These are the small structures at the poles of the cell that help organize the spindle fibers.)*

5. List the diagrams in order from first to last in the cell cycle.
D, A, F, C, E, B
*(Order breakdown: D=Interphase → A=Early Prophase → F=Late Prophase → C=Metaphase → E=Anaphase → B=Telophase/Cytokinesis)*

6. Are the cells depicted plant or animal cells?
Animal

* a. Explain your answer:
The cells are round and do not have a rigid cell wall. Also, during division (Cell B), the cell membrane is pinching inward (cleavage furrow) rather than forming a cell plate.
* b. If it were the other type of cell what would be different in the diagrams?
Plant cells would look square or rectangular due to the cell wall. During cytokinesis, they would form a "cell plate" in the middle instead of pinching in half.

7. What is the longest phase of the cell cycle?
Interphase
*(Reasoning: This is the phase where the cell spends most of its life growing and copying DNA before dividing.)*

8. Why is mitosis important?
It allows for growth and repair by creating two identical daughter cells with the exact same genetic material as the parent cell.

9. Predict what would happen if an individual had faulty spindle fibers.
The chromosomes would not separate correctly. One daughter cell might get too many chromosomes, and the other might get too few, leading to cell death or disease.

10. Predict what would happen if cytokinesis was skipped.
The cell would divide its nucleus but not its body. This would result in one giant cell with multiple nuclei and too much DNA, which would likely not function properly.

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Top Questions (from the top of the page):

29. The period of cell growth and development between mitotic divisions?
Interphase

30. What is the phase where cytokinesis occurs?
Telophase
*(Note: Cytokinesis usually begins during late Anaphase or Telophase and finishes shortly after.)*