CELLULAR BASIS OF GROWTH

All living things grow by increasing mass and size. This increase is due to addition
of materials in the protoplasm. Growth is an anabolic process (that is, requires
building up).

In single celled organisms, the young organisms grows until it reaches its
maximum size then it produces by division of the adult cell into two daughter cells e.
g in Amoeba.

All multi-cellular organisms begin life as a single fertilized cell. The cell further
divides into four daughter cells. There is no increase in size. Hence, cell division is the
basis of growth in multi-cellular organisms since it brings about increase in the
numbers of cells.

Cell division

This is the classification into mitosis and meiosis. It occurs during the growth and
development of an organism. The process of mitosis takes place in the body cells that
are not involved in production of sex gametes. The body cells are called somatic cells.
In humans for instance the number of chromosomes in the somatic cell is 46 which is
represented as 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes. Each somatic cell is
represented with a diploid number (2n) which represents the total number of paired
chromosomes in the organism. Other examples of diploid numbers in organisms
includes Amoeba which has 50 ( I. e 25 pairs), Rice has 24( I. e 12 pairs) ,e. t. c.

Just before cell division takes place, the chromosomes appear as threads-like
structures in the nucleus. At this time of cell division, chromosomes start becoming
shorter and thicker with each making an exact copy of itself . The tread like strands
separates into two parallel strands called Chromatids which are held at a region called
centromere. When cell division occurs, one Chromatids from the parent cell
chromosome goes into each daughter cell and becomes a chromosome. This process
is to ensure that each daughter cell consist of the same chromosome makeup and
genes as the parent cell.

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 Assignment: Draw the diagrams showing the stages of mitosis.

Stages of Mitosis Cell Division

There are five stages of mitosis which are:-

(i) Interphase: At this stage, the cell has a normal appearance of not undergoing
division. It is also known as the resting stage.
(ii) Protophase: At this stage, the process of cell division is divided into early and
late prophase. At the early prophase stage, chromosomes contracts and become
visible. During the late prophase stage, spindle fibres are formed and chromosomes
become more shorter and fatter. The prophase ends with the breaking down of the
nuclear membrane.
(iii) Metaphase: This also exists in early and late forms. At the early stage, the
chromosomes are centrally arranged on the spindle. During the late stage, the
Chromatids (chromosome threads) pull apart from the centromere (which connects
the chromosome pair together).
(iv) Anaphase: It also exists in early and late stages. During the early phase, the
Chromatids begin to separate and migrate to their opposite ends. During the late
phase, the Chromatids finally reach their destinations.
(v) Telophase: It is also divided into early and late phase , the cell starts to divide
along the middle. During the late phase, the division continues. The nuclear
membrane and the nucleolus reform at the late phase and the cell returns to its
resting stage (interphase). Hence the daughter cells have the same chromosome
number as the parent cell.

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 PLANTS AND ANIMALS GROWTH
Growth is defined as an irreversible or permanent increase in size, dry mass or
weight in organisms. In plants and animals we shall consider some differences in their
growth.

Plants growth Animal growth

(i) It is restricted mainly to growth it takes place in all regions of the body.
regions.
(ii) Continuous throughout limited to certain periods in life.
Life.
(iii) Indefinite number of Definite numbers of parts.
Parts.

Factors affecting growth

There are several factors affecting the growth of organisms which includes;
(i) Availability of nutrients since all organisms requires nutrients which are
necessary for growth and development.
(ii) Humidity enables the growth of living organisms.
(iii) Light is essentially required by plants for their growth since they also require it
for photosynthesis.
(iv) Ph which refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity of a substance also affects
growth and development.
(v) Health and exercise are responsible for growth and development in man.

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 Growth Hormones

Hormones are internal factors which are known to affect plants and animal
growth. In the plants, there are growth hormones which includes; cytokinins,
gibberellins and Auxins. The Auxins promotes or inhibits cell elongation in plant stems
and roots. It also stimulates the process of cell division. Gibberellins also, promote
cell elongation and bring about steam growth. It also affects cell division and cell
differentiation to a certain extent in plants.
In animals, hormones are secreted by the endocrine glands. The hormones
mainly concerned with growth are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, thyroid
gland, and gonads. Some of these hormones include thyroxine, somatotropin, e .t. c.
over or under secretion of these growth hormones results into abnormal growth
conditions such as dwarfism or gigantism.

Growth Response (Tropism) in plants

Tropism is a type of response in which plant grows in response direction of an
external stimulus. When the response is towards the direction of stimulus, it is said to
be positive tropism while when it is away from direction of stimulus, it is a negative
tropism. The table below shows different examples of tropism in plants.
Stimulus Name of response Examples
1.Light phototropism bending of shoot towards light in green
plants (positive phototropism) and
bending of roots away from light(negative
phototropism).

2.Gravity Geotropism Bending of the plant n shoot away from

gravity (negative geotropism) while roots
bends towards direction of gravity
(positive geotropism).

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 Stimulus Name of response Examples

3.Water Hydrotropism Roots bends towards water moisture

(Positive hydrotropism) while the shoots
Bend away from moisture (negative
hydrotropism).

4.Touch or pressure Thigmotropism Tendrils of climbing plants twine around a

support(positive thigmotropism) while
their root grow away from the support
(Negative thigmotropism)

Other aspects of cellular basis of growth include;

(i) Cell enlargement: This is the process which follows cell division whereby the
daughter cells increase in mass and in size. That is, the cell enlarges its size.
(ii) Cell differentiation: This process occurs after cell enlargement whereby each
develops into a special type of cell by changing shape or structure to carry out a
special function. The kind of cell it eventually becomes depends on its position
in the body of an organism. For instance, a cell may develop into nerve cell if it
is located in the brain. Therefore, cell differentiation is important for growth
and development of multi-cellular organisms.