In the fern life cycle, how do spores and gametes differ?
A) Gametes are produced by the sporophyte.
B) Meiotic cell division produces haploid spores; mitotic cell division produces haploid gametes.
C) Spores are produced mitotically; gametes are produced meiotically.
D) Gametes are diploid; spores are haploid.
E) Gametes are easily visible to the unaided eye; spores are not.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spores are produced through meiotic cell division by the sporophyte phase and are haploid, leading to the gametophyte phase. Gametes (sperm and eggs) are produced by the gametophyte through mitotic division and are also haploid. This distinction highlights the alternation of generations in ferns, where both haploid and diploid stages are multicellular.

In the Fern Life Cycle, How Do Spores and Gametes