Cell division would occur least frequently in which of these tissues?

• A. Apical meristem of a root
• B. Cork cambium
• C. Vascular cambium
• D. Apical meristem of a terminal bud
• E. Epidermis

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that cell division is a process where a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells. It is crucial for growth, development, and repair in organisms.
2. Recognize that tissues with high rates of cell division are typically involved in growth or repair. In plants, these include meristematic tissues like the apical meristem and cambium.
3. Identify the function of each tissue mentioned: Apical meristems (both root and terminal bud) are regions of active cell division, responsible for primary growth. Cambium tissues (cork and vascular) are involved in secondary growth, adding girth to the plant.
4. Consider the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of cells in plants. Its primary role is protection, not growth, and it generally has a lower rate of cell division compared to meristematic tissues.
5. Conclude that the epidermis would have the least frequent cell division among the options provided, as it is not primarily involved in growth processes like the other tissues.