BIOL 304 EXAM 6 | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What is the basic structure of the plant shoot? - ANSWER>-Shoot system: aboveground portion of the plant,
collects sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce sugars
-consists of one or more stems, which has nodes where leaves attach and internodes, which are the spaces in
between.
-leaf sits on the stalk/petiole and is the photosynthetic site
-axillary/lateral buds sit underneath the node, may grow into a branch
-the tip of each stem and branch has an apical bud, where growth occurs to extend the length of the stem/branch
What are meristems/meristematic cells? Why are they important and where are they located? -
ANSWER>Meristems are a region of plant tissue, found chiefly at the growing tips of roots and shoots and in the
cambium, consisting of undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to undergo mitosis. When the meristematic cells
divide, one daughter cell remains in the meristem, allowing it to persist. As apical meristem cells divide, enlarge,
and differentiate, the plant experiences primary growth, which is the lengthening of root and shoot systems.
(DETERMINES PLANT BODY STRUCTURE)
,What is determinant and indeterminate growth? What are the roles of these two kinds of growth in plants (give an
example of each)? - ANSWER>determinant growth- ceases to grow after reaching a certain size
indeterminant growth- plant continues to grow throughout life
determinate growth dictates reproductive cell division, while indeterminant dictates vegetative cell division.
Plants grow by adding parts rather than increasing the size of parts. What are some consequences of this form of
growth? - ANSWER>-growth is indeterminate
- some regions of the plant are partially independent, allowing for mutations to be isolated
-flowers and gametes are produced at many locations
-plants can constantly adapt to changing environmental conditions
Be able to draw and label the internal and external parts of a leaf. What are the functions of each part? -
ANSWER>epidermis-epidermal and guard cells, trichomes, and root hairs for protection, gas and nutrient exchange
collenchyma- primary wall with uneven thickenings, for support
xylem- tracheids, vessels, fibers dead at maturity to help conduct water and nutrients
phloem- seive-tube elements, compantion cells, fibers (dead at maturity), transport of sugars, amino acids, etc.
, What are the three partially derived primary meristems that result from division of the apical meristems and what
tissues do they form? - ANSWER>protoderm- gives rise to dermal tissue
ground meristem- gives rise to ground tissue
procambium- gives rise to vascular tissue
Describe the roles of cell division and cell enlargement in plant growth. - ANSWER>Pattern of cell division
determines the shape of the tissue/organism:
- anticlinal divisions increase in length (primary growth)
-periclinal divisions increase in width (secondary growth)
-the direction the new wall is laid down is relative to the nearest outside surface
-when growing, in order to prevent the vascular cambium from snapping, the circumference increases with every
division via multiplicative division
-size of cells every year depends on water and nutrient availability, affecting yearly ring size on cross section
ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What is the basic structure of the plant shoot? - ANSWER>-Shoot system: aboveground portion of the plant,
collects sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce sugars
-consists of one or more stems, which has nodes where leaves attach and internodes, which are the spaces in
between.
-leaf sits on the stalk/petiole and is the photosynthetic site
-axillary/lateral buds sit underneath the node, may grow into a branch
-the tip of each stem and branch has an apical bud, where growth occurs to extend the length of the stem/branch
What are meristems/meristematic cells? Why are they important and where are they located? -
ANSWER>Meristems are a region of plant tissue, found chiefly at the growing tips of roots and shoots and in the
cambium, consisting of undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to undergo mitosis. When the meristematic cells
divide, one daughter cell remains in the meristem, allowing it to persist. As apical meristem cells divide, enlarge,
and differentiate, the plant experiences primary growth, which is the lengthening of root and shoot systems.
(DETERMINES PLANT BODY STRUCTURE)
,What is determinant and indeterminate growth? What are the roles of these two kinds of growth in plants (give an
example of each)? - ANSWER>determinant growth- ceases to grow after reaching a certain size
indeterminant growth- plant continues to grow throughout life
determinate growth dictates reproductive cell division, while indeterminant dictates vegetative cell division.
Plants grow by adding parts rather than increasing the size of parts. What are some consequences of this form of
growth? - ANSWER>-growth is indeterminate
- some regions of the plant are partially independent, allowing for mutations to be isolated
-flowers and gametes are produced at many locations
-plants can constantly adapt to changing environmental conditions
Be able to draw and label the internal and external parts of a leaf. What are the functions of each part? -
ANSWER>epidermis-epidermal and guard cells, trichomes, and root hairs for protection, gas and nutrient exchange
collenchyma- primary wall with uneven thickenings, for support
xylem- tracheids, vessels, fibers dead at maturity to help conduct water and nutrients
phloem- seive-tube elements, compantion cells, fibers (dead at maturity), transport of sugars, amino acids, etc.
, What are the three partially derived primary meristems that result from division of the apical meristems and what
tissues do they form? - ANSWER>protoderm- gives rise to dermal tissue
ground meristem- gives rise to ground tissue
procambium- gives rise to vascular tissue
Describe the roles of cell division and cell enlargement in plant growth. - ANSWER>Pattern of cell division
determines the shape of the tissue/organism:
- anticlinal divisions increase in length (primary growth)
-periclinal divisions increase in width (secondary growth)
-the direction the new wall is laid down is relative to the nearest outside surface
-when growing, in order to prevent the vascular cambium from snapping, the circumference increases with every
division via multiplicative division
-size of cells every year depends on water and nutrient availability, affecting yearly ring size on cross section
