# Meristem tissue is found in plants and contains undifferentiated stem cells. Explain why meristem tissue is important for plant growth and how scientists can use this tissue to produce large numbers of identical plants.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 2.1 Stem cells and cell potency · Explain · 5 marks

> Gardeners and agricultural scientists can use cuttings taken from the meristem regions of plants to grow new plants quickly and on a large scale.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Meristem tissue contains undifferentiated (stem) cells
2. These cells can undergo cell differentiation to become any specialised plant cell type
3. This allows the plant to grow new tissues and organs (e.g. roots, leaves, shoots)
4. Scientists can take cuttings from meristem tissue and use them to grow new plants
5. The new plants produced are genetically identical to the parent plant (asexual reproduction)

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "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/meristem-tissue-is-found-in-plants-a20aa365) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.