Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 1BI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Describe growth in organisms, including: a cell division and…
Full specification wording
Topic 2 – Cells and control: 2.5 Describe growth in organisms, including: a cell division and differentiation in animals b cell division, elongation and differentiation in plants
Growth in organisms depends on cells dividing and then becoming specialised.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1BI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 16
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Growth in organisms depends on cells dividing and then becoming specialised. In animals, growth involves cell division followed by differentiation, where cells develop features suited to particular jobs; some animal cells retain the ability to differentiate, but many become specialised early. In plants, growth involves cell division, then elongation as cells take in water and lengthen, and then differentiation into tissues such as xylem. A multiple-choice question may ask which process is missing from a description or which sequence matches plants or animals. Test each option against the named processes: animals need division and differentiation; plants need division, elongation and differentiation. An option that omits elongation for plants, or that claims plants do not differentiate, is wrong.
What earns the marks
- Growth in animals involves cell division followed by differentiation into specialised cells.
- Growth in plants involves cell division, elongation of cells and differentiation.
- Elongation is a plant growth process in which cells lengthen, and it must be included alongside division and differentiation.
- Differentiation is the process by which cells become specialised for particular functions in both animals and plants.
- A correct option must match the processes named for the organism in the question, so plant answers require elongation as well as division and differentiation.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Choosing a plant option that lists only division and differentiation.
Put it right by adding elongation as a required plant process.
Claiming that plant cells do not differentiate.
Put it right by stating that plant cells differentiate into specialised tissues.
Treating elongation as an animal growth process.
Put it right by linking elongation specifically to plant growth.
Assuming growth is only an increase in cell number.
Put it right by including differentiation, and for plants elongation, as part of growth.
Exam tips
- Identify whether the question is about animals or plants before checking the processes listed.
- For plant options, confirm that division, elongation and differentiation are all present.
- Reject options that omit a named process or that assign elongation to animals.
Try the lesson
The start of the Topic 2 – Cells and control: 2.5 Describe growth in organisms, including: a cell division and differentiation in animals b cell division, elongation and differentiation in plants lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In animals, which pair of processes contributes to growth of the organism?
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