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BiologyPlant Biology10 minBeginner

Root Tip and Mitosis

Use a root tip to connect plant growth zones with the cell division stages visible near the meristem.

Annotated teaching image of a plant root tip with growth zones and mitosis features.
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Root cap

Protective tip that helps the root push through soil.

Root tips are useful for seeing mitosis because the meristematic zone contains many actively dividing cells. Behind it, cells elongate and then differentiate into specialized tissues.

The root cap protects the growing tip, while root hairs farther back increase surface area for uptake.

Key Idea

Plant growth is spatially organized: division, elongation, and differentiation happen in different zones along the root.