reproduction Flashcards
What are the key features of the angiosperm life cycle?
A: Flowers, double fertilization, and fruits are the key features.
What is the function of male wasps interacting with the Mediterranean orchid Ophrys speculum?
A: The orchid uses mimicry to attract male wasps, which results in pollination.
What are the four main floral organs?
A: Sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
What does double fertilization in angiosperms involve?
A: Fusion of one sperm with the egg to form a zygote and another sperm with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm.
What are the two types of angiosperm gametophytes?
A: Male gametophyte (pollen grain) and female gametophyte (embryo sac).
What is the role of the receptacle in a flower?
A: It attaches floral organs to the stem.
What is the function of the sepals?
A: To enclose and protect the unopened flower bud.
How do petals aid in reproduction?
A: They attract pollinators with bright colors and scents.
What are the two main parts of a stamen?
A: Filament and anther.
What is produced in the anther?
A: Microsporangia (pollen sacs) that produce pollen.
What are the components of a carpel?
A: Stigma, style, and ovary.
What is the function of the stigma?
A: To capture pollen.
What is housed in the ovary?
A: Ovules containing female gametophytes.
What are complete flowers?
A: Flowers that have all four floral organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
What are incomplete flowers?
A: Flowers missing one or more floral organs.
What type of flowers are unisexual?
A: Flowers lacking either stamens or carpels.
What is an inflorescence?
A: A cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.
What is the alternation of generations in plants?
A: A life cycle alternating between multicellular haploid (n) and diploid (2n) stages.
What does the gametophyte
generation produce?
A: Gametes (sperm and eggs) by mitosis.
What does the sporophyte generation produce?
A: Haploid spores by meiosis.
What process follows the fusion of gametes?
A: Fertilization, resulting in a zygote.
How do angiosperm gametophytes differ from other plants?
A: They are highly reduced in size and dependent on the sporophyte for nutrients.
What are the “three Fs” of the angiosperm life cycle?
A: Flowers, double fertilization, and fruits.
What structure develops into the fruit in angiosperms?
A: The ovary.
What does the zygote develop into?
A: The embryo of the seed.
What is the primary role of fruits in plants?
A: Protecting seeds and aiding in their dispersal.
What is the function of pollen grains?
A: To deliver sperm cells to the ovule.
What happens to the pollen grain on the stigma?
A: It germinates and grows a pollen tube down to the ovule.
What is the embryo sac in angiosperms?
A: The female gametophyte within the ovule.
What is the role of endosperm in seeds?
A: Providing nutrients to the developing embryo.
What type of reproduction is common in angiosperms?
A: Sexual reproduction, although asexual reproduction also occurs.
What is an example of a mutualistic relationship in flowers?
A: Flowers and their pollinators.
What are the advantages of asexual reproduction in plants?
A: Produces genetically identical offspring, conserving advantageous traits.
What are the disadvantages of asexual reproduction?
A: Lack of genetic diversity, making plants vulnerable to environmental changes.
How does genetic engineering modify crops?
A: By altering their DNA to introduce desirable traits.
What is a transgenic plant?
A: A plant that contains genes from another species.
What are some applications of plant biotechnology?
A: Disease resistance, pest resistance, and improved nutritional content.
What is the function of floral nectar?
A: To attract pollinators.
What is pollination?
A: The transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.
What is cross-pollination?
A: Pollination between flowers of different plants.
What is self-pollination?
A: Pollination within the same flower or plant.
What are pollination syndromes?
A: Traits in flowers adapted to specific pollinators.
How are wind-pollinated flowers adapted?
A: They produce large amounts of lightweight pollen.
What is a seed coat?
A: The protective outer layer of a seed.
What is the primary purpose of genetic engineering in agriculture?
A: To enhance crop yield and resistance to environmental challenges.
What does the term “genetically modified organism” (GMO) mean?
A: An organism whose genome has been altered in a lab.
What are hybrid plants?
A: Plants produced by crossing two genetically distinct parents.
How do plants disperse seeds?
A: Through wind, water, animals, or mechanical means.
What is the significance of seed dormancy?
A: It allows seeds to survive unfavorable conditions and germinate later.
What is the role of the style in a flower?
A: To connect the stigma to the ovary.
How do angiosperms benefit ecosystems?
A: By providing food, oxygen, and habitats.
What is the importance of studying the angiosperm life cycle?
A: It helps in understanding plant reproduction, agriculture, and biotechnology.
