Final answer:
Growth can impact both the age of sexual maturity and life span, as it influences when an organism reaches puberty and its overall developmental stage, which in turn affects reproductive timing and population dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the question of how growth relates to the age of sexual maturity and life span, the correct answer is (d) Growth can impact both the age of sexual maturity and life span. Growth is a biological process that continues from conception to adulthood, contributing to an organism's development until it reaches sexual maturity during puberty. The period of puberty, which includes various physical changes, signals that an individual has reached sexual maturity, marked by the ability to reproduce.
The age at which an organism reaches sexual maturity can bear an influence on its life span as well. An organism that matures sexually at an earlier age may commence reproduction earlier, which can affect the generation times and the overall population dynamics. Moreover, certain factors influencing growth, such as nutrition and health, can also affect the life span of an organism.
Additionally, population growth is related to the age-sex structure, as a younger population will likely have higher fertility rates, while an older population might face different social and health challenges. The age of sexual maturity and the subsequent reproductive phase can thus have profound implications for both individual life span and the broader demographic trends within a population.