Question

Heterophyllous development in response to environment is an example of which of the following phenomena?

• A. Plasticity
• B. Dedifferentiation
• C. Redifferentiation
• D. Elasticity

Hint:

Remember: \textbf{P}lasticity allows \textbf{P}lants to be flexible with their leaf shapes based on where they grow!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Plants follow different pathways in response to environment or phases of life to form different kinds of structures. This ability is called plasticity. A classic example is heterophylly in cotton, coriander, and larkspur, where the leaves of the juvenile plant are different in shape from those in mature plants. In the case of Ranunculus (buttercup), the leaf shapes are modified in response to the environment (air vs. water).
• Plasticity: The capacity of an organism to alter its development or phenotype in response to varying environmental conditions.
• Dedifferentiation: The process where differentiated cells regain the capacity to divide.
• Redifferentiation: The process where cells produced by dedifferentiated tissues lose their ability to divide and become specialized again.