Asked by Gabriel Miranda on Jul 28, 2024
Verified
A major evolutionary trend among plants is
A) a reduction in the size of the gametophyte and an increase in the size of the sporophyte.
B) a reduction in the size of the sporophyte and an increase in the size of the gametophyte.
C) an increase in the size of both the sporophyte and the gametophyte.
D) a decrease in the size of both the sporophyte and the gametophyte.
E) the sporophyte and the gametophyte have evolved to become the same size for all plant types.
Gametophyte
The sexual and haploid phase in the life cycle of plants and algae that produces gametes through mitosis.
Sporophyte
The diploid phase in the life cycle of plants and algae that produces spores through meiosis, which in turn develop into the gametophyte generation.
Evolutionary Trend
A general direction of adaptive changes or evolutionary developments in a group over time.
- Describe major evolutionary trends in the plant kingdom, including changes in the dominant life cycle stages.
Verified Answer
MT
Manjinder ThandiAug 04, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
Throughout plant evolution, there has been a trend towards larger sporophytes and smaller gametophytes. This is because the sporophyte is the dominant generation in most plants, and it is responsible for producing spores, which give rise to the next generation. The gametophyte, on the other hand, produces gametes, which are necessary for sexual reproduction, but are less important in terms of the overall life cycle of the plant. Therefore, an increase in the size of the sporophyte and a decrease in the size of the gametophyte is advantageous for plant survival and reproduction.
Learning Objectives
- Describe major evolutionary trends in the plant kingdom, including changes in the dominant life cycle stages.