Question

Mitosis helps (a) Growth (b) Repair (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these

Short answer

The correct answer is (c) Both (a) and (b). Mitosis helps in both growth and repair of an organism.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate option (a)

Consider whether mitosis helps in growth. Since the production of new cells is necessary for an organism to grow and develop, and mitosis produces new cells, it can be concluded that mitosis does indeed play a role in growth.

Evaluate option (b)

Consider whether mitosis helps in repair. If a part of an organism's body is damaged, the damaged or dead cells need to be replaced for the tissue to heal or repair. Since the process of replacing cells is facilitated by mitosis, it can be concluded that mitosis plays a role in repair.

Evaluate options (c) and (d)

Since we have established that mitosis assists in both growth and repair, hence we can conclude that the correct answer is (c) Both (a) and (b). Consequently, (d) None of these cannot be the correct answer as both (a) and (b) are helped by mitosis.

Key concepts

Cell Division

One of the fundamental processes that sustain life is cell division, a mechanism by which a single cell divides into two or more daughter cells. This is crucial for various biological functions, such as the organism's growth, development, and the maintenance and repair of tissues. During cell division through the process of mitosis, a parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the original parent cell. Mitosis is divided into several phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, each serving a unique purpose to ensure the accurate distribution of the cell's genetic material.

Mitosis is a rigorously controlled process, with checkpoints that ensure any errors are corrected. This precision is vital, as unchecked errors can lead to the development of cancerous cells. Thus, understanding mitosis is not only key for understanding healthy organismal growth but also for comprehending the malfunctioning of cells that leads to diseases.

Growth and Development

Growth and development are continuous and dynamic processes that are essential parts of an organism's life cycle. Growth refers to the increase in size and mass of an organism, which involves both the production of new cells and the enlargement of existing cells. On the other hand, development encompasses the overall changes an organism undergoes through its life cycle, including maturation and the differentiation of cells into various tissues and organs.

Mitosis plays a pivotal role in growth by facilitating the addition of new cells. It's a backbone process for developmental phases such as embryogenesis, where cells not only multiply but also begin to take on specific functions. Adequate cellular division is essential for proper growth patterns, and disturbances in mitosis can lead to growth disorders or developmental abnormalities. Emphasizing the cellular basis of growth and development aids students in appreciating the intricacies of biological structures and their functions.

Tissue Repair

Tissue repair is the body's natural healing process to restore tissue integrity after an injury. This can include minor superficial cuts or more severe internal damage. The human body is equipped with a remarkable ability to heal, with cell division through mitosis being critical in this process. When tissues are damaged, the cells at the edge of the injury proliferate rapidly to close the wound and replace the lost or damaged cells.

In addition to replacing cells, mitosis is involved in the regenerative processes of many organisms that can restore entire body parts, such as the regeneration of a salamander's tail. Understanding how cell division contributes to tissue repair highlights the immense regenerative capabilities our cells possess and emphasizes its importance in medical sciences, which seeks to harness and optimize these natural processes for treatments and therapies.