Question

"most moss gametophytes do not have a cuticle and are 12 cells thick. what does this imply about moss gametophytes and their structure?"

Answer 1

Moss gametophytes lack a cuticle and have a simple, thin structure, which indicates their adaptation to moist environments and a primitive, non-specialized form compared to vascular plants. They rely on rhizoids for attachment and can regain moisture, allowing them to thrive in various habitats.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fact that most moss gametophytes do not have a cuticle and are only about 12 cells thick suggests that these structures are highly primitive and adapted for moist environments. The absence of a cuticle implies that these gametophytes can easily lose water, which is why they thrive in damp conditions where they can absorb water and nutrients directly through their thin structure. The simplicity of their structure, with few specialized cells and lacking true vascular tissue, indicates that mosses are more primordial compared to vascular plants.

Moss gametophytes are the dominant phase of their lifecycle and are characterized by having simple conductive cells and being attached to the substrate by rhizoids. Rather than having true roots, mosses rely on these rhizoids for anchorage, allowing them to colonize various habitats, including harsh ones. They can also regain moisture after drying out, which, together with their photosynthetic capability, helps them to survive in a wide range of environmental conditions.

Answer 2

This implies that the gametophytes can easily lose water to, and absorb water from, the atmosphere.
Moss is a flowerless, spore-producing pant. The main moss structure is the gametophyte, a moss's stem and leaves. A moss stem also the axis supports leaf-like structures that carry out photosynthesis, transforming sunlight into sugars the moss uses for food.