The Marvels of Alternation of Generations

Plant Life Cycle

• The sporophyte stage in plants produces spores through meiosis.
• The gametophyte stage in plants has a haploid (1n) ploidy level.
• Bryophytes, a group of non-vascular plants, have the gametophyte stage as their dominant stage.
• The alternation of generations in plants can be best described as a cycle where a diploid sporophyte generation alternates with a haploid gametophyte generation.
• The unique nature of plant life cycles is called alternation of generations.
• In contrast to animals, plants have an alternation of generations, where a diploid generation produces haploid spores, which then develop into a haploid generation that produces gametes, whereas animals have a single diploid generation that produces gametes.
• The gametophyte stage in the plant life cycle is haploid (1n).
• The sporophyte stage in the plant life cycle is diploid (2n).
• The sporophyte stage in the plant life cycle produces spores.
• The gametophyte stage in the plant life cycle produces gametes.