Question

Discuss the morphological differences between animal and plant development. How are the developmental processes different at the cellular level? How are they similar at the genetic level?

Short answer

Animal and plant cells differentiate both in terms of mobility and the method of cell division during development. Animal cells divide and can move to form structures, while plant cells divide in place to generate complex structures. However, at the genetic level, there are shared processes like DNA replication, transcription, and cell cycle control, indicative of a conserved ancestral biological pathway.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the Characteristics of Animal Cell Development

During the development of animal cells, cleavage, or cell division, occurs resulting in the production of smaller cells as the zygote divides. Blastulation creates a blastula, which is a hollow ball of cells. The cell then undergoes gastrulation, which is a series of morphogenetic movements leading to the formation of embryonic layers. This stage eventually leads to the formation of organs and tissues.

Identifying the Characteristics of Plant Cell Development

Plant development is characterized by sequential, position-dependent differentiation of cells. In contrast to most animal cells, most plant cells don't move. Instead, plant structures are formed by groups of cells dividing in specifically oriented ways to create complex organs. The primary meristems (or apical meristems) provide new cells for increase in length, while the secondary meristems (or lateral meristems) allow for the plant's growth in girth.

Establishing the Similarities at the Genetic Level

Despite the obvious differences in the development and organization of plants and animals, at the genetic level, similarities are found. Many basic biological processes are conserved between the two, including DNA replication, transcription, translation, and key aspects of cell cycle control. Developmental control genes are also largely conserved, demonstrating a shared heritage of key features of multicellular organization.