Biology • Year 12 • Module 5 • Lesson 3
Reproduction in Plants, Fungi, Bacteria and Protists
Lock in the structures, terms and processes behind sexual and asexual reproduction across plants, fungi, bacteria and protists.
1. Label the flowering-plant sexual reproduction diagram
The schematic below shows the events of sexual reproduction in a flowering plant, from pollen on the anther to seed formation. Write the missing labels into boxes A–H. Each label is taken from Lesson 3 § Key Terms or Card 1. 8 marks
- A — male part _______________________
- B — receiving tip _______________________
- C — female gamete site _______________________
- D — process: transfer of pollen anther → stigma _______________________
- E — process: fusion of male + female gametes _______________________
- F — diploid cell formed from fusion _______________________
- G — ovule develops into… _______________________
- H — ovary develops into… _______________________
| Box | Your label |
|---|---|
| A | |
| B | |
| C | |
| D | |
| E | |
| F | |
| G | |
| H |
2. Term–definition match
The ten definitions below are shuffled. In the right-hand column write the matching term from this list: pollination, fertilisation, vegetative propagation, budding, spore, binary fission, runner, tuber, zygote, sexual reproduction. 10 marks
| # | Definition (shuffled) | Matching term |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Asexual reproduction in which one cell replicates its DNA and divides into two daughter cells. | |
| 2.2 | Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma in flowering plants. | |
| 2.3 | A reproductive cell that can develop into a new organism under suitable conditions; used by fungi for dispersal. | |
| 2.4 | Asexual reproduction in plants using structures such as runners, bulbs, tubers or cuttings. | |
| 2.5 | The diploid cell formed when male and female gametes fuse. | |
| 2.6 | Asexual reproduction in which a new organism grows out of the body of the parent — used by yeast. | |
| 2.7 | Fusion of male and female gametes in the ovule of a flowering plant. | |
| 2.8 | A horizontal above-ground stem (e.g. in strawberries) from which a new plant can grow. | |
| 2.9 | An underground swollen stem (e.g. in potatoes) used by plants for asexual reproduction and food storage. | |
| 2.10 | A reproductive process involving gametes, fertilisation and the production of offspring with genetic variation. |
3. True or false — with correction
For each statement, circle T or F. If the statement is false, rewrite it so that it is biologically correct in the ruled space provided. 10 marks (2 each)
3.1 Pollination is the same biological event as fertilisation. T / F
If false, correct it:
3.2 A bacterium dividing by binary fission is not really reproducing because only one cell is involved. T / F
If false, correct it:
3.3 A new strawberry plant produced from a runner is genetically identical to its parent (apart from mutation). T / F
If false, correct it:
3.4 Fungi reproduce only by producing spores; they cannot reproduce by budding. T / F
If false, correct it:
3.5 Asexual reproduction in plants always produces more genetic variation than sexual reproduction. T / F
If false, correct it:
4. Cloze paragraph — multi-kingdom reproduction
Fill each blank with one term from the word bank. Each term is used once. 8 marks
Word bank: binary fission · budding · pollination · spores · fertilisation · vegetative propagation · seed · variation.
In flowering plants, the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma is called _______ (4.1). The male gamete then fuses with the female gamete in the ovule — a process called _______ (4.2). After this, the ovule develops into a _______ (4.3), which protects the embryo and assists dispersal. Plants can also reproduce asexually through _______ (4.4) — for example a strawberry runner or a potato tuber. Yeast reproduces asexually by _______ (4.5), in which a small outgrowth separates from the parent cell. Bacteria reproduce by _______ (4.6), in which one cell replicates its DNA and divides into two daughter cells. Many fungi disperse to new sites by producing _______ (4.7). A major advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction is that it generates _______ (4.8), which can improve survival when conditions change.
Q1 — Labelled diagram
A: anther (the male part of the stamen that produces pollen). B: stigma (the receiving tip of the pistil where pollen lands). C: ovule (contains the female gamete; site of fertilisation). D: pollination (transfer of pollen from anther to stigma). E: fertilisation (fusion of male and female gametes). F: zygote (the diploid cell formed at fertilisation). G: seed (the ovule develops into a seed which protects the embryo). H: fruit (the ovary develops into a fruit in many species, assisting dispersal).
Q2 — Term–definition matches
2.1 binary fission • 2.2 pollination • 2.3 spore • 2.4 vegetative propagation • 2.5 zygote • 2.6 budding • 2.7 fertilisation • 2.8 runner • 2.9 tuber • 2.10 sexual reproduction.
Q3 — True / false with corrections
3.1 False. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma — it is a prerequisite for fertilisation but not fertilisation itself. Fertilisation occurs when the male gamete fuses with the female gamete in the ovule.
3.2 False. In a unicellular organism such as a bacterium, one cell dividing produces two new individuals, so binary fission is a full reproductive process that maintains continuity of the species.
3.3 True. Vegetative propagation by runners produces offspring that are genetically identical clones of the parent, apart from any new mutations.
3.4 False. Many fungi use both budding (e.g. yeast) and spores; spores are not the only reproductive mode for fungi.
3.5 False. Asexual reproduction typically produces less genetic variation than sexual reproduction, because offspring are genetic clones of the single parent.
Q4 — Cloze paragraph
4.1 pollination • 4.2 fertilisation • 4.3 seed • 4.4 vegetative propagation • 4.5 budding • 4.6 binary fission • 4.7 spores • 4.8 variation.