1. What are the two types of reproduction?
(1) asexual reproduction
(2) sexual reproduction
2. What is asexual reproduction?
When one parent carries out mitotic cell division to produce offspring, the process is called asexual reproduction?
3. What are the features of asexual reproduction?
(1) no gametes are involved.
(2) the offspring are genetically identical to their parent.
4. What is sexual reproduction?
It is the reproductive process involving fusion of gametes.
5. What are the characteristics of sexual reproduction?
(1) Gametes must be involved. They come from meiotic cell division
(2) gametes are usually produced from parents of different sex
(3) the offsprings will certainly not be the same as the parents.
6. What are the different types of asexual reproduction in nature?
(1) binary fission
(2) vegetative propagation of flowering plants
Note: In fact, there is another type called budding as seen in yeast. The reproduction of fern by spores is also another type of asexual reproduction.
7. How is binary fission carried out in bacteria?
It is basically the same process as mitotic cell division.
8. What are the different types of vegetative propagation in flowering plants?
(1) root: root tuber
(2) Stem: stem tuber, bulb, corm, rhizome
(3) leaf
9. What are the structures do the vegetative parts and reproductive parts of flowering plants refer to?
Reproductive parts refer to the flower, which can carry out sexual reproduction
Vegetative parts refer to the root, stem or leaf, which is usually used for producing and storing food.
10. What are the basic processes of vegetative propagation in flowering plants?
(1) In unfavourable environment (e.g. winter), the vegetative organs are in dormant state.
(2) When the environment becomes suitable, e.g. spring, aerial shoots will develop and adventitious roots will also be form at the expense of the food in vegetative organs.
(3) The storage organ dries up as food is being used. New leaves grow out from the stem above the ground to carry out photosynthesis to make food.
(4) The food produced will partly be transported downwards to form new storage organs.
(5) When unfavourable environments arrive again, the stem will die, the vegetative organs underground will again return to a dormant state.
11. What is artificial vegetative propagation?
The use of the vegetative parts of a plant to carry out reproduction manually.
12. What are the four parts of a flower?
As listed from outside to inside:
(1) sepal
(2) petal
(3) stamen
(4) carpel
13. List the structures of a flower.
Flower stalk, receptacle
Sepal (calyx as a whole)
Petal (corolla as a whole)
Stamen (including anther and filament)
Carpel (including stigma, style, ovary and ovule)
14. What are the function of sepal?
Protect the flower buds.
15. What are the features of petals and their corresponding functions?
(1) brightly coloured: to attract insects
(2) scented: to attract insects
(3) Some petals have nectar guides: to guide insects towards nectaries
16. Where are pollen grains produced?
They are produced in the pollen sacs inside the anther of the stamen.
17. What are the functions of the three structures of the carpel?
(1) Stigma: to receive the pollen grains
(2) style: to support the stigma
(3) ovary: contains ovules which will become seeds after fertilization. The whole ovary will become the fruit.
18. What are the structures of the ovule?
(1) integuments
(2) female gamete (ovum)
(3) funicle
(4) micropyle
19. What are bisexual flowers and inisexual flowers??
Bisexual: flowers that contain both stamens and carpels.
Unisexual: flowers that only contain stamens or carpels.
20. What is pollination?
The process of which pollen are transferred from anther to stigma.
Note: Can be the same flower, different flowers of the same plant, or different flowers of different plant….
21. What is the significance of pollination?
Through this process, the male gamete in the pollen can be transferred to the carpel to fertilize the female gamete.
22. What is self-pollination?
The transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of the same flower or to the stigma of another flower on the same plant.
23. What is cross-polllination?
The transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species.
24. What are the adaptive features of insect pollinated flowers?
(1) contains mectaries
(2) large petals, brightly coloured and scented, with nectar guides
(3) anthers located inside the flower
(4) broad and sticky stigma
(5) the surface of pollen grains is rough, spiky or sticky
25. What are the adaptive features of wind pollinated flowers?
(1) feathery stigmas which hang outside the flower
(2) Anthers hangs outside the flowers
(3) filament is thin and flexible
(4) Large number of small, light and smooth and dry pollen grains
26. What are the features of the pollen grains of insect-pollinated flowers and their significance / importance?
Features: The surface of pollen grains is rough, spiky or sticky
Significance: to stick on to the surface of insects easily
27. What are the features of pollen grains of wind-pollinated flowers and their significance / importance?
Large number: to offset the large amount of non-pollinated pollen grains such that at least some get pollinated.
Small, smooth surface and dry: this allow the pollen grains to be light and easily blown to different places.
28. How does fertilization take place in flower plants?
(1) Pollen grains land on the stigma of the same species.
(2) Sugary solution on the stigma stimulates germination of the pollen grain.
(3) The pollen tube grows down the style and then into the ovary by secreting enzymes to digest the tissues of the style. The male gamete is carried towards the ovule.
(4) The pollen tube grows through the micropyle. The tip of the pollen tube bursts to release the male gamete into the ovule.
(5) The male gamete fuses with the female gamete to form a zygote.
29. After fertilization, what will happens to the floral parts?
Ovuleà becomes seed
Ovary à becomes fruit
Ovary wall à becomes the flesh of the fruit as well as the skin
Integumentà becomes seed coat
30. After fertilization, which parts of the flower will wither and fall off?
Sepal, petal, stamen
Note: Stigma and the style will dries up but attached to the fruit.
31. What is the functions of the fruit?
(1) protect the seed
(2) assist in dispersal of the seed
32. What are the method of dispersal of seeds?
(1) Dispersal by animals
(2) Dispersal by wind
(3) Dispersal by water
(4) Dispersal by explosive mechanism
33. What are the strategies used in dispersal of seeds by animals?
(1) fleshy and nutritious fruits attracts animals to eat.
(2) fruits or seeds have hooks which clings on to the surfaces of animals.
34. What is dispersal by explosive mechanism?
e.g. bean pod
(1) the pod dries up
(2) tension in the fruit wall increases
(3) pod split open
(4) seeds are released
35. What is the significance of seeds and fruits?
(1) They prevent overcrowding, therefore reducing competition for resources between offspring or individuals across generations.
(2) to allow species to colonize new areas
(3) daughter plants can escape from pests and diseases associated with parent plants.
36. List the advantages of vegetative propagation (asexual reproduction).
(1) Favourable features can be retained
(2) no external agents are required
(3) occurs at a relatively fast rate
37. List the disadvantages of vegetative propagation.
(1) offsprings show no genetic variation. As a result, the species is less adapted to changes in the environment.
(2) Overcrowding and competition of resources occur among offspring and parents.
(3) Transmission of diseases from parents to offspring is more likely
38. What are the advantages of sexual reproduction by producing flowers and seeds?
(1) offspring show genetic variations which may help the species adapt to changes in the environment
(2) Seeds can be dispersed over long distances to reduce overcrowding and competition of resources among offspring and parents.
(3) Transmission of diseases from parents to offspring is less likely.
39. What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction by producing flowers and seeds?
(1) Desirable characteristics may not be retained in the offspring
(2) External agents are required for pollination, seed and fruit dispersal
(3) occurs at a relatively slow rate