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GCSE Combined Science · key term
Plant tissue containing undifferentiated cells, found in growing regions such as root and shoot tips. Its cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout the plant’s life.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 4.1.2.3 · Paper 1
Revise: Stem cellsPlants contain stem cells in meristems, growing regions such as the tips of roots and shoots. These cells divide to supply new cells for growth. Some of the new cells differentiate into specialised cells needed by the plant: for example, cells produced near a root tip can become root hair cells.
Paper 1, Paper 2
A region of plant tissue containing unspecialised cells that divide by mitosis and can give rise to specialised plant cells.
Revise: Stem Cells and Their Use in MedicinePlants also retain unspecialised cells. These are found in regions of tissue called meristems, including the tips of roots and shoots and regions within stems and roots. Meristem cells divide by mitosis, maintaining a supply of unspecialised cells and producing cells that can differentiate into specialised plant cells.
Distinguish the developmental potential: embryonic stem cells can form most human cell types; adult bone marrow stem cells form a more limited range; meristem cells can form any plant cell type.
For plant meristems, link their location to their function: cells at root and shoot tips divide and differentiate to support growth.
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