Ch15 Growth and Development

15.1 Concepts of growth and development

 Can often occur at the same time

A. Growth
 The permanent / irreversible increase in size and dry mass
 (mitotic) cell division  increase cell number
 Synthesis biomass using food substances  cell enlargement  increase in cell volume/size

B. Development
 The increase in complexity of organisms
 Involves differentiation (specialization) of cells into different cell types to perform different functions
significance: enables division of labour among specialized cells

15.2 Methods of measuring growth

advantage disadvantage
Dry mass Most accurate in showing the 1. Organisms has to be killed
actual amount of organic matter  impossible to make continuous measurement of
by heating the organism in an oven (biomass) in an organism same organism
slightly above 100c  large number of the same kind of organisms
until a constant mass obtained upon
kept in identical conditions are needed
repeated weighing
 Ensure all water removed 2. time-consuming
3. impractical to measure dry mass of large organisms
(tree)
Fresh mass 1. fast and convenient Easily affected by water content which changes NOT
 put sample on electronic balance to 2. organism is NOT killed related to growth (env. conditions/ behaviours of org)
measure its weight continuous measurement of cannot show actual biomass of the organism
same organism
Size
- Length/height
 grow mainly by elongation (body
height, length of tails, length of stem
and roots)
- Volume
 esp structures with irregular shape
 by water displacement
(displacement can, water, measuring
cylinder)

- Surface area
 flat structures (leaves)
 ***using transparent grid paper
1. count area of one square
2. trace outline
3. count the number of squares
occupied and hence the s.a. of ONE
side
4. area *2 for total s.a.