• Question: how do we grow??? x x

    Asked by lozjazxx on 24 May 2012. This question was also asked by spursboy, jonjo123, natrualme, asandhu, farm.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 24 May 2012:

      It’s due to a process called ‘mitosis’ – this is when a cell in our body separate into two cells, each of which are genetically identical. Over time, this results in lots of new cells being made, which is what makes us grow!

    • Photo: Faye Didymus

      Faye Didymus answered on 26 May 2012:

      Hi lozjazxx! Growth is due to a process of cell division called mitosis. The main thing to remember is that mitosis is the simple duplication of a cell and all of its parts. It duplicates its DNA and the two new cells (daughter cells) have the same pieces and genetic code. Two identical copies come from one original cell. Beyond the idea that two identical cells are created, there are certain steps in the process. There are five (5) basic phases in the life-cycle of a cell. You should remember the term PMATI. PMATI is the acronym for the phases of a cell’s existence. It breaks down to: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and interphase. Different things happen in these different stages but the bottom line is that cells divide and we grow taller!

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 28 May 2012:

      Hi @lozjaxx

      cells replicate themselves by a process called mitosis which results in two cells developing from one. This powers growth, and there are certain time in our life when this process happens more. For example, mitosis over the nine months we spend as an embryo generates an organism the size of a baby. The other period in which we grow fast is early childhood. Over 10 – 20 years, mitosis develops a human the size of a baby, into a fully fledged adult. This requires billions of cells, all generated by mitosis.

      Jemma

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