Login

What is alternation of generations?

Dear Student

Alternation of generation means that two types of organism, a haploid gametophyte generation and a diploid sporophyte generation, alternate in the life cycle. The haploid generation is called the gametophyte because it undergoes sexual reproduction to produce gametes. Production of gametes involve mitosis, so the gametes are also haploid. The gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote which grows into the next generation, the diploid sporophyte generation. It is called sporophyte because it undergoes asexual reproduction to produce spores. Production of spores involves meiosis,  so that there is return to the haploid condition. The haploid spores give rise to the gametophyte generation. One of the two generation always more conspicuous and occupies a greater portion of the life cycle; thus it is said to be the dominant generation.

Regards

  • 0
View Full Answer
Dear student,

Alternation of generation means that two types of organism, a haploid gametophyte generation and a diploid sporophyte generation, alternate in the life cycle.

The haploid generation is called the gametophyte because it undergoes sexual reproduction to produce gametes. Production of gametes involve mitosis, so the gametes are also haploid.

The gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote which grows into the next generation, the diploid sporophyte generation. It is called sporophyte because it undergoes asexual reproduction to produce spores. Production of spores involves meiosis, ?so that there is return to the haploid condition. The haploid spores give rise to the gametophyte generation. One of the two generation always more conspicuous and occupies a greater portion of the life cycle; thus it is said to be the dominant generation.

Regards
  • 0
Dear student,

Alternation of generation means that two types of organism, a haploid gametophyte generation and a diploid sporophyte generation, alternate in the life cycle.

The haploid generation is called the gametophyte because it undergoes sexual reproduction to produce gametes. Production of gametes involve mitosis, so the gametes are also haploid.

The gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote which grows into the next generation, the diploid sporophyte generation. It is called sporophyte because it undergoes asexual reproduction to produce spores. Production of spores involves meiosis, so that there is return to the haploid condition. The haploid spores give rise to the gametophyte generation. One of the two generation always more conspicuous and occupies a greater portion of the life cycle; thus it is said to be the dominant generation.

Regards
  • 0
Dear Student,

Alternation of generation refers to the alteration of two forms of an organism i.e. haploid generation and diploid generation in the life cycle. The haploid generation is called gametophytic generation, which produces gametes, and when these gametes fuse they form a diploid zygote which undergoes mitosis and forms the sporophyte. The sporophyte undergoes meiosis and forms haploid spores which germinate and form gametophytes. Thus we can see here that sporophytic generation again returned to gametophytic generation, so the alternation is evident. One of the generation will be more prominent in the life cycle and occupies major portion of the life cycle.



Regards
  • 2
Alternation of generation refers to the alteration of two forms of an organism i.e. haploid generation and diploid generation in the life cycle. The haploid generation is called gametophytic generation, which produces gametes, and when these gametes fuse they form a diploid zygote which undergoes mitosis and forms the sporophyte. The sporophyte undergoes meiosis and forms haploid spores which germinate and form gametophytes. Thus we can see here that sporophytic generation again returned to gametophytic generation, so the alternation is evident. One of the generation will be more prominent in the life cycle and occupies major portion of the life cycle.
  • -1
What are you looking for?