Gymnosperm Life Cycle Quiz & Characteristics Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the main characteristic that distinguishes a gymnosperm from an angiosperm?

Production of fruits

Presence of flowers

Seeds without a direct outer covering (correct)

Seeds with a direct outer covering

What is the term for the adult tree stage in a gymnosperm life cycle?

Seedling

Zygote

Gametophyte

Sporophyte (correct)

What is the purpose of the pinecone in a gymnosperm?

To disperse seeds

To receive pollen (correct)

To produce pollen

To protect the seed

How many sets of chromosomes are present in a haploid stage of a gymnosperm?

One Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the meeting of male and female gametophytes in a gymnosperm?

Production of a new tree Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the stage in a gymnosperm life cycle where the plant is represented by male and female gametophytes?

Gametophyte Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic shared by both angiosperms and gymnosperms?

Alternation of generations Signup and view all the answers

What is the ploidy of the pollen grains in a pine tree?

Haploid Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the sporophyte in the conifer life cycle?

To produce gametophytes Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between male and female cones in pine trees?

Male cones are soft and flexible, while female cones are woodier and tougher Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of fertilization in gymnosperms?

A diploid embryo Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about gymnosperm seeds?

They lack a protective coating Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of meiosis in the gymnosperm life cycle?

To produce haploid cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between megagametophytes and microgametophytes?

Megagametophytes produce eggs, while microgametophytes produce sperm Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the gymnosperm life cycle diagram?

It illustrates the processes by which each stage is produced Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Gymnosperm Life Cycle

The plant kingdom is divided into two categories: angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (plants with naked seeds)

Characteristics of Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms have seeds that are not covered by a direct outer covering
Many gymnosperm seeds are found within other structures, such as cones
Gymnosperms alternate between haploid and diploid stages during their life cycle

Alternating Generations in Gymnosperms

Haploid stage: contains one set of chromosomes, represented by male and female gametophytes (sex cells)
Diploid stage: contains two sets of chromosomes, represented in the adult tree after gametophytes have joined and developed

Gymnosperm Reproduction

Pinecone is the female reproductive structure of a gymnosperm
Pollen grains represent the haploid stage, containing one set of chromosomal information
Fertilization occurs when pollen meets the female gametophyte, resulting in a diploid seed

Gymnosperm Sporophytes

Adult tree represents the diploid stage of the conifer life cycle
Sporophyte produces haploid stage through meiosis, resulting in megaspore or microspore
Megaspore develops into megagametophyte, producing eggs, while microspore develops into microgametophyte, producing sperm

Gymnosperm Fertilization Process

Male cones contain microspores in the form of pollen grains
Female cones contain megaspores with eggs
Polyln is easily carried by wind or animals from the male cone to the female cone, resulting in fertilization

Gymnosperm Seeds

Gymnosperm seeds lack a protective coating, unlike angiosperm seeds
Seeds develop under the scale of the female cone after fertilization

Gymnosperm Life Cycle Diagram

The cycle consists of:
- Adult sporophyte producing megasporophyte and microsporophyte
- Megasporophytes and microsporophytes undergoing meiosis to develop haploid megaspores and microspores
- Megaspores developing into megagametophytes with eggs
- Microspores developing into microgametophytes with sperm
- Wind carrying pollen from male cone to female cone for fertilization
- Fertilized egg developing into diploid sporophyte