Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

BIOLOGY SCORE
CHAPTER 10: GROWTH
SUBTOPIC: 10.1 Measurement of Growth
LEARNING OUTCOME: (a) Define growth (C1).
(b) Explain how growth is measured (C2).

MAIN IDEAS
EXPLANATION NOTES
/KEY POINT

Define growth An irreversible increase in size or biomass of an organism over

time // Any permanent and irreversible increase in quantitative
parameter over a specific time

 May continue throughout the life of an organism or may cease at

maturity
Explain how Unicellular organisms
growth is i. Population growth
measured
Multicellular Organisms
i. Height / Length
ii. Biomass / wet mass / dry mass

Unicellular:
• When a unicellular organism reaches a certain size, it will divide to
form two separate cells
 Results in growth of their populations
• Population growth of unicellular organisms can be measured in
 changes in cell numbers: direct cell count
 counting number of cells of a sample directly under
microscope
 changes in cell mass

Multicellular:
• Growth can be measured at different biological levels such as
growth of a cell, organism or population
• A population growth curve can be obtained by plotting the numbers
of organisms in a population against set intervals of time
 Biomass / wet mass / dry mass; length / height
• Growth curve: A graphical representation of how a particular
quantity increases over time
Height & Length:
1. A periodic linear measurement
2. Advantages:
a) Easier and quick to measure growth of a whole organism or
part of an organism
b) Can be measured continuously

1 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

MAIN IDEAS
EXPLANATION NOTES
/KEY POINT

3. Disadvantages:
a) Not suitable for plant because it measures the aerial position of
the plant
b) Does not give much information about the growth of branches/
leaves/root

Mass/Biomass
• The best and commonly used method
• Dry & Wet Mass

i. Wet Mass
1. The mass of an organism in the normal condition
2. Advantages:
a) Easier, convenient to measure
b) Same organism can be used for repeated measurements
c) Can be used to monitor growth of an organism over the
period of time
3. Disadvantages:
a) Does not measure true growth
b) Inaccurate/inconsistent due to fluctuation of water in
organism
ii. Dry Mass
1. The mass of an organism after its water content is fully
eliminated
2. Advantages:
a) It is more accurate because it is not affected by water
content
3. Disadvantages:
a) Organism is killed to remove the water content
b) Same organism cannot be measured repeatedly
c) Requires a large amount of individuals from the same
population

*additional parameter: Surface Area, Volume

Surface Area
1. More accurate - e.g. leaves
2. Disadvantage - difficult & impractical if organism is irregular in
shape
Volume
1. Suitable for organisms that are spherical or cylindrical in shape
2. Disadvantage - living organism are rarely spherical/cylindrical in
shape

2 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

BIOLOGY SCORE
CHAPTER 10: GROWTH

SUBTOPIC: 10.2 Types of Growth Curve

LEARNING OUTCOME: (a) Explain absolute growth curve (C2):
i. Lag phase
ii. Log phase
iii. Decelerating (linear) phase
iv. Plateau (stationary) phase
(b) Explain absolute growth rate curve (C2)

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

(a) Explain 1. Also known as actual growth curve

absolute 2. Obtained by plotting the parameters against time
growth curve  Parameter e.g.: mass, length
(C2)  Time e.g.: years, hours
3. Shows the overall growth
4. Sigmoid growth curve
5. 4 phases:
 A- Lag phase: little/slow growth
 B- Log phase: growth rapidly
 C- Decelerating (linear) phase: growth becomes limited
 D- Plateau (stationary) phase: overall growth ceases/stop

D
C

Lag phase

1. No growth or slow growth

2. Little or no cell division and cell enlargement
3. Organism try to adapt to new environment

3 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

Log phase
1. Growth rate is maximum
2. Cell divide and enlarge rapidly as conditions for growth are at
optimum
 Adequate nutrients and space
 No accumulation of waste products
Decelerating phase
1. Growth begins to decrease/slow
2. Limited by internal or external factors or both
 Eg: depleting nutrients, limited space, competition,
accumulation of waste products

Stationary phase
1. Overall growth has ceased/stopped
2. Cell division rate same as cell death rate
3. Net growth rate equal to zero
4. Followed by senescence and death

(b) Explain 1. Obtained by plotting the change in parameter against time

absolute  From absolute growth curve
growth rate 2. The curve shows how the growth rate changes during the time of
curve (C2) study
3. Growth rate increases to a maximum level initially and later falls
until growth rate equals zero.
4. Bell-shaped graph

4 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

BIOLOGY SCORE
CHAPTER 10: GROWTH

SUBTOPIC: 10.3 Growth Patterns

LEARNING OUTCOME: (a) Explain limited growth (annual plants) and unlimited growth (perennial
plants) (C2)
(b) Explain isometric growth(fish) and allometric growth (human organs)
(C2)
(c) Explain intermittent growth curve (arthropods) (C2)

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

(a) Explain Limited growth

limited growth 1. Definite or determinate
(annual 2. Growth of an organism until reaches maximum size
plants) and 3. Does not continue throughout life / until death
unlimited 4. Typically sigmoid curve
growth 5. Occurs in annual plants
(perennial a. When the plant matures and reproduces, undergoes a period of
plants) (C2) negative growth
b. Senescence and died
c. E.g. corn, wheat, rice, lettuce, peas,
6. Animals showing limited growth: mammals, birds, insects

5 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

Unlimited growth
1. Indefinite or indeterminate/continuous growth
2. Grow and reproduce for many years
3. Organism has relatively long life span
4. No growth limit
5. Growth continues until the organism is destroyed by:
a. Its own size
b. Parasites
c. Predators
d. Natural disaster: fire, lightning, storms
6. Occurs in fungi, algae, fishes and reptiles
7. Also occurs in woody perennial plants
8. Has no maximum fixed size
9. Grows continuously throughout its life
10. E.g. tropical plant: cengal, meranti, durian
11. Has a cumulative series of sigmoid curves
12. Each sigmoid curve represents one year’s growth
13. Shows increase in size/mass
14. Corresponding to 4 seasons: e.g. oak, pines
a. During spring and autumn, moderate rate of photosynthesis and
small increase in growth of plants
b. During summer, high rate of photosynthesis and large increase
in the growth of plants
c. During winter, low rate of photosynthesis and minimum growth

6 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

(b) Explain Isometric Growth

isometric 1. An organ grows at the same mean
growth (fish) rate as the rest of the body
and allometric 2. Change in size is not accompanied
growth by change in shape
(human 3. Relative proportions of organs and
organs) (C2) whole body remain the same
4. Eg: fishes, grasshoppers

Allometric Growth
1. An organ grows at a different rate from the rest of the body
2. Change in size is accompanied by change in shape
3. Relative proportions of organs and whole body are different
4. Eg: human organs
• Lymphoid tissue is the fastest to develop
• Reproductive organ is the slowest

7 | KMPk
Biology Student’s Companion Resources SB015

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

/KEY POINT

Intermittent Growth
(c) Explain 1. Insect life cycle involves different stages/incomplete
intermittent metamorphosis
growth curve 2. It is discontinuous growth or step like pattern
(arthropods) 3. Produced by the changes in stages of life cycle
(C2) 4. These insects possess exoskeletons
5. Growth is limited by hard exoskeleton
6. They have to moult / they can under ecdysis periodically during
growth
7. Each stage between ecdysis/moulting is known as instar
8. This moulting of the skin allows body mass to increase rapidly
9. Growth rate slows down when the exoskeleton hardens
10. Growth stops when adult stage is achieved
11. Eg: grasshopper, insects & crustaceans

8 | KMPk