Grasses (Poaceae) are widely distributed wind-pollinated plants. Describe three anatomical features of their flowers that adapt them specifically for the successful dispersal and capture of wind-borne pollen.
The processes of sexual reproduction in flowering plants and placental mammals share many functional stages but employ different anatomical structures.
Complete the comparative table below by writing the most appropriate term from the following list in each blank space. Each term may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
anther, copulation, fallopian tube, ovary, ovule, placenta, pollination, seed, testes, uterus, zygote
| Feature | In flowering plants | In mammals |
|---|---|---|
| Location of male gamete synthesis | ||
| Location of female gamete synthesis | ||
| Process facilitating gamete transfer | ||
| Anatomical site of gamete fusion (fertilisation) | ||
| Structure/organ supporting embryo development |
During the life cycles of sexually reproducing organisms, both mitosis and meiosis occur. Contrast the daughter cells produced by meiotic division with those produced by mitotic division, highlighting three key differences.
A commercial horticulture facility specialises in producing uniform, high-yield varieties of orchids. Explain two biological or commercial advantages of using micropropagation (tissue culture cloning) to produce these orchids instead of growing them from seeds produced by sexual reproduction.
