# Describe how meristem tissue in plants is similar to embryonic stem cells in animals, and explain why meristem tissue is used by horticulturalists to produce large numbers of identical plants.

> Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0) — 2.1 Stem cells and cell potency · Describe and Explain · 5 marks

> Horticulturalists can take small samples of meristem tissue from a single prize-winning plant and use them to grow thousands of new plants with the same desirable characteristics.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Meristem tissue contains undifferentiated (stem) cells, like embryonic stem cells
2. Both meristem cells and embryonic stem cells can differentiate into a range of different cell types
3. Meristem cells divide by mitosis to produce new cells
4. Mitosis produces genetically identical daughter cells, so all plants grown from the same meristem tissue are genetically identical to the parent plant
5. This means the desirable characteristics of the prize-winning plant are preserved / passed on to all new plants

## Key terms

- [meristem tissue](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/meristem-tissue)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe and Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/describe-how-meristem-tissue-in-plants-5f8d6aff) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.