Biology (9-1) - 0970 CIE

Tropic Responses

Overview

Plants cannot walk towards the sunshine, but they can grow towards it. Put a seedling on a windowsill and within days its shoot bends to face the light. Plant roots, meanwhile, grow downwards no matter which way you plant the seed. These growth responses to direction are called tropisms.

In this lesson you will learn what phototropism and gravitropism are, how to investigate them in shoots and roots, and (for the extended curriculum) how the chemical auxin controls them by making one side of a shoot grow faster than the other.

Objectives

  1. Describe gravitropism as a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from gravity
  2. Describe phototropism as a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from the direction of the light source
  3. Investigate and describe gravitropism and phototropism in shoots and roots
  4. [Supplement] Explain phototropism and gravitropism of a shoot as examples of the chemical control of plant growth
  5. [Supplement] Explain the role of auxin in controlling shoot growth, limited to: (a) auxin is made in the shoot tip (b) auxin diffuses through the plant from the shoot tip (c) auxin is unequally distributed in response to light and gravity (d) auxin stimulates cell elongation

Lesson Note

Tropisms keep a plant in the best position to survive: shoots grow towards light for photosynthesis and upwards against gravity, while roots grow down towards water and anchorage. The auxin mechanism is a classic extended-tier topic that links a chemical to a growth response.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Tropic Responses. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. A plant shoot growing towards light shows: A. positive gravitropism B. negative gravitropism C. positive phototropism D. negative phototropism Answer: C
  2. A root growing downwards towards gravity shows: A. positive gravitropism B. negative gravitropism C. positive phototropism D. negative phototropism Answer: A
  3. Auxin is made in the: A. root tip only B. shoot tip C. leaves D. flowers Answer: B
  4. When a shoot is lit from one side, auxin collects on the: A. lit side B. shaded side C. top D. roots Answer: B
  5. Auxin stimulates shoot cells to: A. divide only B. elongate C. die D. shrink Answer: B

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Practice Mock Questions

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