What is demonstrated when bean seeds are placed between moist paper towels and roots and leaves appear?

The process demonstrated when bean seeds are placed between moist paper towels and roots and leaves appear is germination. Germination refers to the series of events that occur when a seed begins to grow into a new plant. This process is triggered by suitable environmental conditions such as moisture, temperature, and light.

In this scenario, the moist paper towels provide the necessary water for the seeds to absorb, which activates enzymes that begin the growth process. As the seed absorbs moisture, it swells and breaks through the seed coat, allowing the root to emerge first, followed by the shoot that will develop into the leaves. The appearance of roots and leaves is a clear indication that germination is successfully taking place, illustrating the transformation from a dormant seed to an actively growing plant.

The other options represent different biological processes that do not apply to the growth of seeds. Pollination involves the transfer of pollen from male to female parts of flowers, photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, and hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water is used to break down compounds. None of these processes describe what occurs when the bean seeds begin to sprout between the moist paper towels.