Question

Compare the life cycles of mosses and ferns by filling in the blanks below. This question is autograded. Exact spelling is required.

Mosses: Spores are made in the sporophyte phase. Gametes are made in the ______________ - Word Answer gametophyte phase. Sperm-producing structures are called ______________ - Word Answer antheridia. Egg-producing structures are called ______________ - Word Answer archegonia. Majority of tissues are haploid.
A. Blank 1: Haploid
B. Blank 2: Sperm
C. Blank 3: Archegonia
D. Blank 1: Diploid

Answer 1

Mosses and ferns exhibit alternation of generations. The moss life cycle is dominated by the haploid gametophyte, while in ferns, the diploid sporophyte is the dominant phase. Both require water for sperm motility in their reproductive cycles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct option : c

The life cycle of mosses and ferns involves alternating between haploid and diploid phases—a phenomenon called alternation of generations. For mosses, spores produced by the diploid sporophyte phase germinate to form the haploid gametophyte phase. Gametes are made in the gametophyte phase, where the structures called antheridia and archegonia produce sperm and eggs, respectively. In mosses, the majority of tissues are haploid and the gametophyte is the dominant life form, supporting the dependent diploid sporophyte.

In contrast, ferns exhibit a life cycle where the diploid sporophyte generation is dominant. Fern sporophytes are what we typically recognize as fern plants. They produce spores that develop into independent haploid gametophytes, which are much smaller in size compared to the sporophyte.

Both mosses and ferns rely on water for the motile sperm to reach and fertilize the eggs, completing the cycle of sexual reproduction. This is crucial for the transition from the gametophyte to the sporophyte phase.