A sample of healthy human cells contains 4 cells. After they were allowed to divide 5 times using the same type of cell division, there were 128 cells in the sample. Assuming that no mutations occur, which two of the following statements are correct?
1 All the cells would have the same number of chromosomes.
2 The cells were gametes.
3 The cells would be clones of the original cells.
4 This type of cell division is called meiosis.

Answer:

9) B

We must first identify the type of cell division that occurred. 4 cells divided 5 times to form 128 cells. Mitosis produces 2 daughter cells after each division whilst meiosis produces 4 after each division.

If it was Mitosis,
4 – 8 – 16 – 32 – 64 – 128

If it was Meiosis,
4 – 16 – 64 – 256 – 1024 – 4096

So the type of cell division was mitosis.

1 – Correct. All cells would have the same number of chromosomes.

2 – Wrong. If the cells were gametes, they would have divided by meiosis instead of mitosis.

3 – Correct. Mitosis produces clones of the original cells.

4 – Wrong. It is mitosis, not meiosis.

So the answer is B (1 and 3).