Growth
Understanding growth as an increase in mass and number, and why it is not a universally defining characteristic of life.
What is Growth?
An irreversible increase in size, mass, and number of cells or organisms.
Key points
- Define growth in the context of biology.
- Differentiate between growth in living and non-living entities.
- Explain the mechanisms of growth in plants and animals.
- Understand why growth is not a universally defining characteristic of life.
Common exam trap
Confusing growth with increase in size of non-living objects (e.g., sand dunes) as a defining characteristic of life.
Definitions
- Term
Growth
- Meaning
An irreversible increase in size, mass, and number of cells or organisms.
- Term
Cell Division
- Meaning
The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
- Term
Meristematic Tissue
- Meaning
Plant tissue composed of actively dividing cells responsible for growth.
- Term
Indeterminate Growth
- Meaning
Growth that continues throughout the life of an organism.
- Term
Determinate Growth
- Meaning
Growth that stops after reaching a certain size or maturity.
- Term
Accretion
- Meaning
Growth by external addition of similar material, observed in non-living objects.
Learning objectives
Define growth in the context of biology.
Differentiate between growth in living and non-living entities.
Explain the mechanisms of growth in plants and animals.
Understand why growth is not a universally defining characteristic of life.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of cells
Concept of reproduction
Knowledge of plant and animal tissues
Common mistakes
Confusing growth with increase in size of non-living objects (e.g., sand dunes) as a defining characteristic of life.
Assuming growth is always a defining characteristic of life without considering non-living examples.
Not distinguishing between determinate and indeterminate growth.
Keywords
Growth
Mass
Number
Cell Division
Meristem
Indeterminate Growth
Determinate Growth
Accretion
Living Organisms
Non-living Objects
Practice preview
Which of the following is a characteristic of growth in living organisms?…
easy
Growth can be measured in terms of:…
easy
Growth is considered a defining characteristic of life. However, which of the following statements about growth is NOT true?…
medium