Grade 11 · 🧬 Biology · Cell biology · BIO-G11-C2.1
Watch mitosis grow a plant from a single seed
Sprout beans on damp cotton and measure root growth every day — mitosis made visible.
Why this matters
A teff farmer plants one seed and harvests thousands. Every cell of the growing plant came from mitosis. The new seeds came from meiosis, which mixes genes — that's why breeders at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center can select for drought tolerance.
Watch the demo
Video by GPhase
The science
Mitosis: one becomes two identical cells
Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells (2n → 2n). It's used for growth, tissue repair and asexual reproduction.
Meiosis: one becomes four varied cells
Meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes (2n → n), through two divisions in a row.
You'll need
- 5–6 bean or chickpea seeds↳ Any dried beans from the kitchen
- A small dish or plate
- Cotton wool or a thick cloth
- Water and a ruler
Safety first
- Wash your hands after handling seeds and damp cotton.
Step by step
0/4 doneWhat you should see
After 1–3 days a tiny white root appears, then grows longer every day. A shoot follows a few days later.
Why it happens
Every new cell in the root and shoot came from mitosis: cells near the root tip divide again and again, and each daughter cell has the same DNA. Meiosis only happens later, when the grown plant makes pollen and egg cells for its own seeds.
Didn't work? Try this
The seeds went mouldy.
The cotton was too wet or the dish was sealed. Use less water and leave the dish open to air.
Nothing sprouted after 4 days.
Some kitchen beans are too old or were treated. Try a fresh packet, and keep the dish warmer.
Still stuck? Ask the lab assistant
Check your understanding
1. Which process produces genetically identical daughter cells?
2. How many cells does one round of meiosis produce from one starting cell?
Your lab notebook
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