How can root cells grow from shoot cells? How can root cells grow from shoot cells? Multiple Choice It is unable to occur because cells cannot change. Each cell contains all the instructions for every part of the plant. The external environment causes cells to change. Parasitic infections could cause cells to differentiate.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: Each cell contains all the instructions for every part of the plant.
Explanation:
In plants, the process of cell differentiation allows cells to become specialized in structure and function, even though all cells within the plant initially contain the same genetic material. This means that, in theory, any plant cell has the potential to become any type of cell, such as those found in roots, shoots, or leaves, depending on the signals they receive.
In plants, both shoot and root cells arise from meristematic tissues, which are regions of active cell division. These meristems are located in specific parts of the plant, such as the tips of roots and shoots (apical meristems) or along the length of the stem (lateral meristems). The key to cell specialization lies in gene expression, where certain genes are activated while others are suppressed, causing the cells to take on particular roles.
While a cell in a shoot can eventually become a root cell, the process requires specific environmental signals. This process can be influenced by factors like hormones (auxins, cytokinins), light, gravity, and other external stimuli. These signals trigger changes in the gene expression of the cells, directing them to differentiate into the specialized cells needed for root growth.
The idea that “cells cannot change” is incorrect because plant cells are generally quite plastic and adaptable. For instance, plant cells can dedifferentiate and revert to a less specialized state to form new tissues, such as when cells from the shoot system form root cells during regeneration or grafting processes. Similarly, parasitic infections may influence cell differentiation, but it is not the typical or primary way in which shoot cells become root cells.
Thus, it’s the plant’s inherent genetic instructions combined with environmental factors that allow for the transformation of one cell type into another, facilitating growth and adaptation.
