Waec Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Question 2

Practice practical question 2 from the 2019 Waec Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination. This question covers Cell Division .

Waec Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Practical
Topic: Cell Division
Question 2 WAEC_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2019 • BIOLOGY • practical

A fresh onion (Allium cepa) root tip was harvested, fixed in Carnoy’s solution, stained with aceto‑orcein and a permanent slide prepared. Under a microscope set at 1000× total magnification you examined five fields and recorded the following numbers of cells in each stage of mitosis: Prophase – 120 cells, Metaphase – 80 cells, Anaphase – 60 cells, Telophase – 40 cells, Interphase – 200 cells. A total of 500 cells were counted.

Question Parts

( a )
Calculate the mitotic index (percentage of cells undergoing mitosis).
( b )
Determine the percentage of cells in each individual stage of mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase).
( c )
Which mitotic stage shows the highest proportion of cells and what does this indicate about the relative duration of that stage in onion root‑tip cells?
( d )
Suggest two practical measures that could improve the accuracy of the mitotic index you have calculated.

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About This Question

This is Waec Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Question 2. It is one of the practical questions from the 2019 Waec Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

The question covers Cell Division .

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