Question

Jean listed the steps involved in the life cycle of a gymnosperm.

1 - The pollen gets stuck in a sticky liquid.
2 - Sperm from the pollen fertilize the egg in the ovule.
3 - The ovule develops into a seed.
4 - When mature, the seeds are dispersed.

Which step is missing?

Before step 3, the ovule develops cones.
Just after step 3, the ovule develops cones.
Before step 1, wind carries pollen from the male to the female cones.
Just after step 1, wind carries pollen from the male to the female cones.

Answer 1

I don't believe there is a missing step in the listed sequence provided by Jean. However, it’s worth noting that gymnosperms typically produce cones (also called strobili) that contain the reproductive structures, rather than the ovules developing into cones. The cones can be either male or female and are responsible for the production and dispersal of pollen or seeds, depending on the species. Therefore, the development of cones should be included in the life cycle of a gymnosperm, but it does not necessarily occur just before or after a specific step in the sequence listed by Jean.

Hope I could help.

Answer 2

The missing step is Before step 1, wind carries pollen from the male to the female cones.

The life cycle of a gymnosperm begins with the production of pollen in male cones. The pollen is then carried by the wind to female cones, where it fertilizes the ovules. The ovules then develop into seeds, which are dispersed by the wind or animals.

The correct order of the steps is:

Wind carries pollen from the male to the female cones.
The pollen gets stuck in a sticky liquid.
Sperm from the pollen fertilize the egg in the ovule.
The ovule develops into a seed.
When mature, the seeds are dispersed.
So the answer is Before step 1, wind carries pollen from the male to the female cones.