Cell Growth & Differentiation

• What is the purpose of mitosis in cells?

  Mitosis is used for growth, repair, and sexual reproduction.
• How do growth and differentiation occur in plants and animals?

  Growth and differentiation happen in different ways in plants and animals.
• When do cells normally divide by mitosis?

  Cells divide by mitosis when new diploid cells are needed for growth, repair, or asexual reproduction.
• What is the role of mitosis in the growth of aphids?

  Aphids reproduce rapidly by asexual reproduction during the summer.
• What are cancer cells and how do they divide?

  Cancer cells are abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably by mitosis to form a tumour.
• What usually happens to cells when growth has finished?

  Cells usually stop dividing when growth has finished, except when repair is needed.
• What can lead to cancer in terms of cell division?

  Sometimes the controls that tell cells when to stop dividing go wrong, leading to cancer.
• What is the first step in animal growth after fertilization?

  A fertilised egg, or zygote, divides by mitosis to produce genetically identical daughter cells.
• What happens to the daughter cells after they are produced in animals?

  These cells grow and divide by mitosis, eventually differentiating into different types of cells.
• What is the purpose of differentiation in animal cells?

  Differentiation creates specialised cells adapted to carry out a particular function.
• What are examples of specialised animal cells?

  • Red blood cells
  • Egg and sperm cells
  • Nerve cells
  • Bone cells
  • Smooth muscle cells
• Where do plant cells divide by mitosis?

  Plant cells divide by mitosis just behind the tips of shoots and roots.
• How do plant cells grow after division?

  Plant cells grow by enlarging their cell vacuoles which take in water by osmosis.
• What can happen to plant cells throughout their life cycle?

  Most plant cells can continue to grow and differentiate throughout their life cycle.
• What are examples of specialised plant cells?

  • Xylem
  • Phloem
  • Mesophyll cells
  • Root hair cells
  • Sclerenchyma cells
• How does a drug that stops cell division in mitosis help treat cancer?

  It helps to prevent the growth of cancer by stopping the division of cancer cells.
• What is meant by a specialised cell?

  A specialised cell is a cell that has adapted to carry out a particular function.
• Why is cell differentiation important?

  Cell differentiation is important because it allows for the formation of specialised cells that perform specific functions.