B5 - Plant Decelopment

Question 1

Why are cells in the meristem different?

Answer 1

They can remain unspecialised for the whole of the plant’s life. They form new cells through division and can specialise to form tissues such as xylem and phloem (food and water transport tissues), which make organs.

Question 2

How can clones of plants be made?

Answer 2

Through cuttings. These are taken from mitotically active areas. The unspecialised cells can them differentiate to produce any cell, allowing a new identical plant to grow.

Question 3

Why do gardeners often take cuttings?

Answer 3

To recreate desirable characteristics.

Question 4

How are cuttings taken?

Answer 4

1. Take a cutting.
2. Keep it in moist conditions.
3. Add rooting powder in the soil. This contains auxins and speeds up growth in the roots.
4. Produce lots of new clones.

Question 5

Describe the meristem..

Answer 5

This is the only mitotically active section of a plant. This is a type of plant tissue.
The meristem contains unspecialised cells that are able to develop and produce any cell type.