describe what is meant by an alternation of generations in a plant life cycle course hero

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Alternation of generations describes a plant's life cycle as it alternates between a sexual phase, or generation and an asexual phase. The sexual generation in plants produces gametes, or sex cells and is called the gametophyte

Gametophyte

A gametophyte is a stage in the life cycle of plants and algae that undergo alternation of generations. It is a haploid multicellular organism that develops from a haploid spore that has one set of chromosomes. The gametophyte is the sexual phase in the life cycle of plants and algae.

generation. The asexual phase produces spores and is called the sporophyte generation.

Full Answer

Why is the life cycle of plants called alternation of generations?

Therefore, the life cycle of plants is known as alternation of generations. The ability of the plants to reproduce sexually and asexually helps them to adapt to different environments. The alternation of generations depends upon the type of the plant. In Bryophytes, the dominant generation is haploid and the gametophyte comprises the main plant.

What are the two stages of alternation of generations?

Alternation of generations describes a plant's life cycle as it alternates between a sexual phase, or generation and an asexual phase. The sexual generation in plants produces gametes, or sex cells and is called the gametophyte generation. The asexual phase produces spores and is called the sporophyte generation.

What is the alternation of generations between haploid and diploid phases?

Alternation of generations can be defined as a type of life cycle in which a number of generations of plants differentiate between diploid and haploid organisms. Alternation of generations is a common factor in plants, algae, and fungi. This can be compared to the sexual reproduction in animals where both haploid and diploid cells are found in ...

What is the evolutionary advantage of alternation of generations?

Alternation of generations is a reproductive cycle of certain vascular plants, fungi, and protists. The term is a bit confusing for people familiar only with the life cycle of a typical animal. A more understandable name would be "alternation of phases of a single generation" because we usually consider a generation of a species to encompass one complete life cycle.

What is meant by alternation of generations in plants?

alternation of generations, also called metagenesis or heterogenesis, in biology, the alternation of a sexual phase and an asexual phase in the life cycle of an organism. The two phases, or generations, are often morphologically, and sometimes chromosomally, distinct.

What is the alternation of generation life cycle?

Alternation of generations is a type of life cycle found in terrestrial plants and some algae in which subsequent generations of individuals alternate between haploid and diploid organisms. This can be contrasted to sexual reproduction in animals, in which both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation.May 17, 2018

What is alternation of generation with example?

The classic example is the mosses, where the green plant is a haploid gametophyte and the reproductive phase is the brown diploid sporophyte. The two forms occur together. In bryophytes and mosses, the gametophyte is the dominant generation and the sporophyte are sporangium bearing stalks growing from the gametophyte.May 7, 2018

During which part of the alternation of generations life cycle of bryophytes spores are released?

The haploid stage, in which a multicellular haploid gametophyte develops from a spore and produces haploid gametes, is the dominant stage in the bryophyte life cycle.

How does alternation of generations describe the life cycle of seed plants?

Alternation of generations describes a plant's life cycle as it alternates between a sexual phase, or generation and an asexual phase. The sexual generation in plants produces gametes, or sex cells and is called the gametophyte generation. The asexual phase produces spores and is called the sporophyte generation.Nov 12, 2019

What is alternation of generations in plants quizlet?

Alternation of Generations. This term refers to the life cycle of most plants in which the generations alternate between haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. All embryophytes and some algae undergo this process.

Which plants alternation of generations?

Alternation of generations occurs in almost all multicellular red and green algae, both freshwater forms (such as Cladophora) and seaweeds (such as Ulva). In most, the generations are homomorphic (isomorphic) and free-living.

What is meant by alternation of generation in plants Class 11?

Hint: Alternation of generation refers to the occurrence of diploid and haploid multicellular organisms, giving rise to new organisms. This process allows for both the dynamic and volatile action of sexual reproduction as well as consistence act of asexual reproduction. It is most commonly found in plants and algae.

What is alternation of generations name the two generations in plants life cycle schematically represent different life cycle patterns in plants?

The two generations or life cycles that occur are called the sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation. When you speak in genetic terms, it is the rotation in between the haploid and diploid stages. This refers to the chromosomes within the plant cells.

What is alternation of generation describe alternation of generation exhibited by bryophytes?

Alternation of generations is a life-cycle involving two phases of life, which regularly alternate with each other. In Bryophytes, the first phase is the gametophytic phase, in which gametes are produced, that contain half the number of chromosomes.

What is the major difference between the alternation of generations in the life cycles of bryophytes?

Bryophytes lack true vascular system, i.e. xylem and phloem. Vascular plants have true xylem and phloem. Alternation of generations of sporophytic and gametophytic generation occurs in both. In Bryophytes, main plant is gametophyte and sporophyte is reduced and parasitic on gametophyte, whether complete or partial.Aug 5, 2018

What is bryophytes life cycle?

Reproduction and life cycle. The life cycle of bryophytes consists of an alternation of two stages, or generations, called the sporophyte and the gametophyte. Each generation has a different physical form.

Q1. What is the Alternation of Generations?

Ans - Alternation of generations can be defined as a type of life cycle in which a number of generations of plants differentiate between diploid an...

Q2. Mention the Steps Involved in the Alternation of Generations

Ans - The alternation of generations include the following stages:The diploid sporophyte has a structure called a sporangium.The sporangium undergo...

Q3. What Do You Mean by Sporophyte Generation?

Ans - Two haploid gametes fuse together to form a diploid zygote. This results in a sporophyte. The sporophyte is formed by multiple rounds of mito...

What is the difference between vascular and non-vascular plants?

Vascular plants contain a vascular tissue system that transports water and nutrients throughout the plant. Non-vascular plants do not have this type of system and require moist habitats for survival.

What is the process of asexual reproduction?

Plants and some animals are capable of reproducing both asexually and sexually. In asexual reproduction, the offspring are an exact duplicate of the parent. Types of asexual reproduction commonly seen in both plants and animals include parthenogenesis (offspring develops from an unfertilized egg), budding (offspring develops as a growth on the parent's body), and fragmentation (offspring develops from a part or fragment of the parent). Sexual reproduction involves the uniting of haploid cells (cells containing only one set of chromosomes) to form a diploid (containing two chromosome sets) organism.

Where do megaspores form?

They develop into the male gametes or sperm. The female megaspores are produced in the plant ovary . They develop into female gametes or eggs. During pollination, pollen is transferred via wind, insects or other animals to the female part of a flower.

What are non-vascular plants?

Non-vascular plants include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These plants appear as green mats of vegetation with stalks protruding from them. The primary phase of the plant life cycle for non-vascular plants is the gametophyte generation. The gametophyte phase consists of green mossy vegetation, while the sporophyte phase consists ...

Who is Regina Bailey?

Regina Bailey is a board-certified registered nurse, science writer and educator. Her work has been featured in "Kaplan AP Biology" and "The Internet for Cellular and Molecular Biologists.". Alternation of generations describes a plant's life cycle as it alternates between a sexual phase, or generation and an asexual phase. ...

What is the alternation of generations?

The alternation of generations allows for both the dynamic and volatile act of sexual reproduction and the steady and consistent act of asexual reproduction. When the sporophyte creates spores, the cells undergo meiosis, which allows the gametophyte generation to recombine the genetics present.

What are the complication of alternation of generations?

There are many additional factors which can complicate this basic theme of alternation of generations. The most notable complication is gender. Both sporophytes and gametophytes can have genders. Further, the sporophyte or gametophyte may not be totally independent of the other generation. Consider flowering plants for example. Some flowers have both male and female gametophytes housed within. In other flower species, the male and female flowers are separated, but may be present on the same plant. In still other flowers, individual sporophytes only give rise to a certain gender of flower.

What is a sporophyte?

The sporophyte is a multicellular organism formed from multiple rounds of mitosis on the zygote. Thus, the sporophyte individual remains a 2n organism. Then, when the sporophyte reaches maturity, a key point in the alternation of generations takes place. The sporophyte develops organs, known as sporangia.

What is the function of sporophytes?

The sporophyte develops organs, known as sporangia. These specialized reproductive organs are used to create single-celled, haploid spores. These cells will be released into the air or water and carried away. When they reach a suitable environment, they will begin the process of developing into the gametophyte.

What is the next generation of haploid spores?

Gametophyte. This represents the next generation in the alternation of generations, as the haploid spore is created. The spore is technically a new organism, and has only half the DNA as the parent organism. This spore will undergo successive rounds of mitosis to form a new multicellular individual, the gametophyte.

What is the difference between monoicous and dioicous?

The terms monoicous and dioicous are used to describe the gametophytes. If both genders are housed on the same individual , the species is monoicous. If they are separated, the alternation of generations is dioicous. This applies only to the gametophyte. In the sporophyte, the terms used are monoecious and dioecious.

What is the evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction through the alternation of generations?

Fossil evidence, and the existence of many algae with simplified alternation of generation life cycles, hints that the evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction through the alternation of generations is what made terrestrial plants adaptable enough to colonize the land.

What is Alternation of Generations?

Ans - Alternation of generations can be defined as a type of life cycle in which a number of generations of plants differentiate between diploid and haploid organisms. Alternation of generations is a common factor in plants, algae, and fungi. This can be compared to the sexual reproduction in animals where both haploid and diploid cells are found ...

What is the next generation in the alternation of generations?

This is one key point in the alternation of generations. These sporangia are used to create haploid spores. These spores are released and carried away by air and water and when the conditions are favourable they develop into a gametophyte. This is the next generation in the alternation of generations.

What are the stages of a flowering plant?

A flowering plant undergoes the following events during its life cycle: 1 Germination: A plant undergoes germination and begins to grow from seed. The roots are formed below the soil while the leaves, roots, and stem appear above the soil. 2 Pollination: Pollens are carried by wind or insects to another flower. This is called pollination. 3 Fertilization: The pollen travels to the ovary of the flower where the fusion of the male and gametes takes place. This is called fertilization. 4 Dispersal: The seeds are scattered by the wind and animals. Some of these seeds emerge into a new plant.

What is the dominant generation of a plant?

On the other hand, the dominant generations are seen in the form of ferns, trees, or other plants. The dominant generation in vascular plants is the sporophyte, while in the non-vascular plants is the gametophyte.

How do seeds spread?

Dispersal: The seeds are scattered by the wind and animals. Some of these seeds emerge into a new plant. This is how a plant life cycle begins with a seed. The seed sprouts to form a seedling and then the seedling gets converted into a new plant which forms new seeds and the cycle continues.

What is the process of a plant germination?

Germination: A plant undergoes germination and begins to grow from seed. The roots are formed below the soil while the leaves, roots, and stem appear above the soil. Pollination: Pollens are carried by wind or insects to another flower. This is called pollination.

What is the life cycle of plants?

Because of this reason, the life cycle of plants is termed as an Alternation of Generations. The ability of the plants to reproduce sexually and asexually helps them to adapt to different environments.

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Complete the following paragraph to describe the alternation of generations in the plant life cycle

Expert Answer

1. Haploid (1N); diploid (2N). Alternation of generation means there is alteration between two forms - gametophyte and sporophyte. Gametophyte is haploid which means 1N view the full answer

What Is Alternation of Generations

  • Alternation of generations is a type of life cycle found in terrestrial plants and some algae in which subsequent generations of individuals alternate between haploid and diploid organisms. This can be contrasted to sexual reproduction in animals, in which both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation. Alternation of generations has several distinct features, and thes…
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Alternation of Generations Life Cycle

  • Sporophyte
    To form a sporophyte, two haploid gametes come together to form a diploid zygote. Typically, haploid organisms are defined by having an “n” number of chromosomes. When two gametes of the same species come together, they each have n chromosomes. Therefore, the diploid zygote …
  • Gametophyte
    This represents the next generation in the alternation of generations, as the haploid spore is created. The spore is technically a new organism, and has only half the DNA as the parent organism. This spore will undergo successive rounds of mitosis to form a new multicellular indi…
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Complications with Alternation of Generations

  • Gendered Gametes
    There are many additional factors which can complicate this basic theme of alternation of generations. The most notable complication is gender. Both sporophytes and gametophytes can have genders. Further, the sporophyte or gametophyte may not be totally independent of the oth…
  • Differences in the Sporophyte and Gametophyte
    During the alternation of generations in some species, there is an unequal distribution in size or dominance of either the sporophyte or the gametophyte. In different species, this can be reversed. In liverworts the gametophyte is the dominant generation. Liverwort is a gametophytic plant. In f…
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Evolution of The Alternation of Generations

  • Fossil evidence, and the existence of many algae with simplified alternation of generation life cycles, hints that the evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction through the alternation of generations is what made terrestrial plants adaptable enough to colonize the land. The alternation of generations allows for both the dynamic and volatile act of sexual reproduction and the stead…
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Quiz

  • 1. What is one advantage of the alteration of generations over an asexual species? A. Asexual species have very little genetic recombination B. There are no advantages C.It is easier to reproduce 2. What is the difference between the alternation of generations seen in plants and the sexual reproduction seen in mammals? A. Mammals only alternate every other generation B. Ma…
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