<h2><strong>Meristematic Tissue</strong></h2>
<p>Meristematic tissue is <em>undifferentiated tissue</em>. Meristematic tissue contains actively dividing cells that result in formation of other tissue types (e.g. vascular, dermal or ground tissue). <em>Apical</em> meristematic tissue is found in buds and growing tips of plants. <em>Lateral</em> meristematic tissue make the <a data-lesson="summarizing-asexual-reproduction" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-reproduction" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-reproduction/summarizing-asexual-reproduction">plant</a> grow thicker. Examples of lateral meristematic tissue include the <em>cambium</em> or 'bark' found in trees. Lateral meristems occur in woody trees and plants.</p>
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<td><b>Diagram</b></td>
<td><b>Micrograph</b></td>
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<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 321px"><img alt="meristematic-cells" height="227" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/ae858741-34b7-423f-84f2-9ab9cd893b4c" width="321"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Meristematic cells in the growing root-tip of the onion, from a longitudinal section. a. non-dividing cells, with chromatin-network and deeply stained nucleoli; b. nuclei preparing for division; c. dividing cells; e. pair of daughter-cells shortly after divis</p></div>
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<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 290px"><img alt="Image" height="218" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/3d1a8898-66d8-453c-93b0-b1500a420f5d" width="290"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Micrograph of meristematic tissue</p></div>
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<p>The following table highlights how the structure of the meristematic tissue is suited to its function.</p>
<p><strong>Table: </strong>Structural Adaption and Function of Meristematic Tissue</p>
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<td><em>Structural adaptation</em></td>
<td><em>Function</em></td>
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<td>Cells are small, spherical or polygonal in shape.</td>
<td>This allows for close packing of a large number of cells.</td>
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<td>Vacuoles are very small or completely absent.</td>
<td>Vacuoles provide rigidity to cells thus preventing rapid division.</td>
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<td>Large amount of <a data-lesson="cytoplasm" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="introducing-the-cell" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/introducing-the-cell/cytoplasm">cytoplasm</a> and a large nucleus.</td>
<td>The lack of organelles is a feature of an undifferentiated cell. Large nuclear material contains the <a href="https://app.ulearngo.com/tutorials/introducing-genetics/dna">DNA</a> necessary for division and differentiation.</td>
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<p>Meristematic tissue is found in root tips as this is where <a data-lesson="root-modifications" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-form-and-physiology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-form-and-physiology/root-modifications">roots</a> are growing and where dividing cells are produced. The figure below shows micrograph images of a root tip.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 306px"><img alt="Image" height="408" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/e71f33e7-a0f8-40e6-8f70-7e1b54cfeafc" width="306"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Image shows meristematic tissue in a root tip as observed under an electron microscope.</p></div>

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Meristematic Tissue

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the characteristics and functions of different plant and animal tissues, such as meristematic and nervous tissue, as well as learn about traditional medicines and ethical issues in stem cell research in this tutorial.


Meristematic Tissue

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