Growth

Growth
• Occurs when there is an increase in the number of cells in an
organism

• It is irreversible I.e. a permanent increase in size

• Development is associated with Growth

• Development is an increase in complexity. Cells differentiate into

tissues and begin to carry out specific functions
 MITOSIS
• Growth involves the division of cells
to make new ones.
• The way in which cells divide to
provide new cells for growth is called
mitosis
• Mitosis is cell division that occurs in
all body cells except in gamete
formation.
• It results in the formation of 2
genetically identical cells, each
containing the same number of
chromosomes and the same
combination of genes
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 WHY DOES MITOSIS OCCUR?
• Bodies need more cells for
• growth,
• development,
• replacing worn out cells, and
• repairing damaged tissue.

• Mitosis is the part of cell division that divides the copied DNA evenly
into two daughter nuclei.

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 Growth of Flowering Plants
• In animals most cells divide by mitosis
• All the parts of animal’s body can grow
• In a plant not all the cells can divide by mitosis.
Differentiated plant cells cannot divide. Therefore, cell
division in the meristem is required to provide new
cells.
• Only the cells in certain places can do this
• These places are called Meristems
• Most meristems are at the tips of shoots and just
behind the tips of roots
• Because of this most plants grow in a branching shape
• Because all the parts of an animal’s body can
grow, they grow in a more compact shape
 Germination
• Germination is the growth of the seed
into a seedling.

• The seed contains the embryo which is

the made up of the;
• Plumule (grows into shoot)
• Radicle (grows into the root)

• Food is stored in the Cotyledon and/or

Endosperm
• A seed contains hardly any water

• The embryo is protected by a tough Testa

 Conditions needed for Germination
• When conditions are favourable,
germination begins
• Conditions needed;
• Water- moves into micropyle and to
all cells. Enzymes are activated, starch
is broken down to glucose for
respiration
• Oxygen- needed for respiration
• Warmth- optimum temperature for
enzymes
• With the presence of the first
leaves the plant begins to
photosynthesise and make its own
food.
 Growth of a Plant
• Can be divided into three phases
• Cell division – increase in the number
of cells as mitosis occurs

• Cell enlargement - increase in size of

the cells after mitosis

• Cell differentiation – specialisation of

cells as they develop into tissues and
assume special roles. This can be
considered as development.
 Growth and development in
Plants
• Plant growth substances are Hormones
• Auxins, gibberellins

• These are chemicals that occur naturally in plants at very low

concentrations

• They regulate growth and development of the plant from

development of the seed to the death of the plant
 When measuring growth
• For accurate result use a number of Growth in a plant can be measured
seedlings/plants, NOT just one by
1. Measuring the changes in standing
• Use average values height

• Fresh Mass- is the weight of the 2. Measuring changes in mass of the

organism as is. This can fluctuate plant
depending on water content

3. Measuring the surface area of the

• Dry Mass- is the weight of the organism leaves
after all the water is removed. This is the
most accurate method. This requires the
killing of the organism. 4. Counting the number of leaves
 Growth and Development in Humans
• In humans growth takes place fairly
steadily until a person is about 20 years
old
• The rate at which a person grows is
controlled by a number of different
hormones
• The most important hormone is growth
hormone which is secreted by the
pituitary gland
• The sex hormones testosterone and
oestrogen also affect growth. They
increase during puberty and bring about
secondary sexual characteristics.