Table of Contents Dr. NAD's own plant research Plant Growth & Form; Cell Elongation & Division Part I: Overall plant growth by cell elongation The take-home message Part II: Overall plant shape by cell division Microscopy Concepts Spindles in Mitosis Phragmoplasts in Cytokinesis The take-home message Under construction: How was all this discovered? Elementary course on the tools of cell biology.

Plant Growth and Form Cell Elongation and Division (continued) Part II: Overall plant shape by cell division (continued)

The take-home message (Part II: Overall plant shape by cell division) The cytoskeletal scaffold is involved in cell division. New cross-walls positions affect overall plant form. The cytoskeletal scaffold in plant cells affects the form of the entire plant.

(At left:) Wedge/slice from cylindrical plant part (e.g., a root). Boxes: cell walls (containing the "balloons"; not shown). Labels indicate how cross-wall positions affect overall growth. Teaser : Plants need root branches to explore soil. How might a branch arise in this cartoon? Hint: Note the cross-wall marked by an arrow on the upper left. Consider the resulting, outermost daughter cell. Which ways may it elongate?

Related Movies Elongating cell. Through microscope! Click "root hairs" image. Elongating stems. "Watch grass grow!" Seeds emerge from soil.

©1996 Neil A Durso, III

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