Biological termModerate0.5 marks
5(b)
Give appropriate biological / technical terms for the following:
A non-dividing phase of the cell cycle where more DNA is synthesised.
Topic: S phase
Previous-year question practice database
Answer
Exam answer
S PHASE (synthesis phase of interphase).
Explanation
The S phase is part of INTERPHASE, during which the cell is NOT dividing — which is what the question means by "non-dividing phase" — yet it is metabolically very active. The DNA is REPLICATED, so each chromosome comes to consist of two identical chromatids.
The three stages of interphase: G1 (growth, RNA and proteins), S (DNA replicated), G2 (further growth and preparation).
WHY IT MUST HAPPEN FIRST: mitosis separates the two chromatids. Unless the DNA has already been copied there would be nothing to separate.
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