Question

Mark the correct statement. (a) The growth in living organisms is from inside. (b) Plants grow only up to a certain age. (c) Only living organisms grow. (d) All of these

Short answer

The correct statement is both (a) The growth in living organisms is from inside and (c) Only living organisms grow.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze statement (a)

The statement claims that the growth in living organisms is from inside. This is indeed true. Living organisms grow by the division and enlargement of cells which occurs internally. So, the statement is correct.

Analyze statement (b)

The statement suggests that plants grow only up to a certain age. This is false. Plants continuously grow throughout their life. New branches, leaves, and sometimes even new stems keep growing during their lifetime. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

Analyze statement (c)

This statement suggests that only living organisms grow. This is true as well. Growth involving cell division and enlargement is a characteristic of all living organisms, and it's not observed in non-living entities. Therefore, the statement is correct.

Analyze statement (d)

The last statement suggests that all the above statements are correct. Since Statement (b) has been found to be false, statement (d) is also false.

Key concepts

Internal Growth

In living organisms, growth occurs naturally from the inside out. This internal growth is a distinctive process where cells in the organism undergo division and enlargement. In essence, each cell splits into two, and the new cells gradually expand, contributing to the overall growth of the organism.
Living organisms, such as animals and humans, illustrate this by growing larger and stronger from infancy through adulthood. Even after reaching their full size, this internal mechanism continues as cells repair and maintain tissues.
This internal growth is managed by the organism's genetic code and various factors like nutrients and hormones that support cell life. It's a remarkable self-directed process that ensures stability and self-repair in living organisms.

Continuous Growth in Plants

Unlike many animals, plants have the fascinating property of continuous growth throughout their lifetime. Plants achieve this level of growth through different mechanisms, primarily at regions called meristems, where cells continuously divide and contribute to the plant's growth in length and girth.
Meristems are primarily found at the tips of roots and shoots, enabling plants to stretch towards sunlight and below ground to seek water and nutrients. This allows plants to adapt to their environment dynamically.

• Apical meristems: Found at the tips of roots and shoots, promoting lengthwise growth.
• Lateral meristems: Contribute to the plant's thickness, like the growth rings in trees.

Even when plants appear to halt growth during unfavorable conditions, they are merely slowing down. Once conditions improve, their growth continues, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of plant life.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

One of the most fundamental characteristics of living organisms is their ability to grow, which is inherently different from the growth of non-living things. Growth in living organisms involves increasing in size and complexity through processes like cell division while maintaining an ordered structure.
Other defining characteristics of living organisms include:

• Reproduction: The capacity to produce offspring, ensuring the survival of the species.
• Response to stimuli: The ability to react to environmental changes, like plants bending towards light.
• Metabolism: A complex set of chemical reactions that manage energy conversion and use within the organism.
• Homeostasis: Maintaining a stable internal environment despite external fluctuations.
• Cellular composition: All living organisms are made up of cells, the basic unit of life, whether single-celled or complex multicellular beings.

These characteristics collectively distinguish living organisms from non-living matter, setting the dynamic interplay of life apart as a continuous and self-sustaining process.