Describe the cell cycle, including what happens during interphase and mitosis, and explain why mitosis is important to multicellular organisms.

Eduqas A-Level Biology — 1.6 Cell division · Describe · 5 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (5 marks)

The cell cycle is a series of events that take place in a cell in preparation for cell division.
During interphase the cell grows, the number of organelles increases and the DNA is replicated.
During mitosis a eukaryotic cell divides to produce two daughter cells, each with identical copies of DNA.
Mitosis is important because it allows the organism to grow and to replace old or damaged cells.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact terminology: ‘cell cycle’, ‘interphase’, ‘mitosis’, ‘DNA replication’, ‘daughter cells’.
  • Show the sequence: interphase → mitosis → cytokinesis.
  • Explain the purpose of mitosis in growth and repair.
  • Keep the answer concise and to the point.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing mitosis with meiosis.
  • Omitting the DNA replication step in interphase.
  • Using vague terms like ‘cell growth’ without mentioning organelle increase.

Mark scheme (5 marks)

  1. The cell cycle is a series of events that take place in a cell in preparation for cell division
  2. During interphase, DNA is replicated
  3. During interphase, the cell grows and the number of organelles increases
  4. During mitosis, a eukaryotic cell divides to produce two daughter cells, each with identical copies of DNA
  5. Mitosis is important because it allows the organism to grow and to replace old or damaged cells

Key terms in this question

cell cycle · interphase · mitosis

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