What term describes an increase in the mass of an organism or an increase in cell size or number?

• A. Growth
• B. Development
• C. Metabolism
• D. Reproduction

Answer: (A)

Growth is the term that describes an increase in an organism’s mass or an increase in cell size or number. As organisms grow, cells can divide to increase cell number and expand in size, leading to a larger overall mass. Development, by contrast, includes changes in form and function over time, such as differentiation and maturation, and isn’t defined solely by size. Metabolism covers all the chemical reactions that power life, providing energy and building blocks, but it isn’t itself a description of size change. Reproduction refers to producing offspring, which is separate from the growth of the individual organism. So, growth best captures the idea of getting larger in mass or cell number.