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Question #47536
The Question
In a laboratory experiment, a chemical inhibitor is applied to the developing capsule of a moss sporophyte. This inhibitor specifically blocks meiotic reductional division in the spore mother cells, but allows the cells to undergo mitosis to form spores. If these modified spores are allowed to germinate on a suitable medium, which of the following represents the most likely immediate developmental outcome?
Options
- A.
Germination into a diploid protonema, leading to the formation of an autopolyploid gametophyte.
- B.
Direct development of a new diploid sporophyte, as the 2n ploidy strictly dictates sporophytic morphology.
- C.
Germination into a diploid prothallus, which will subsequently produce diploid gametes.
- D.
Formation of a haploid primary protonema due to compensatory somatic reduction during spore germination.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Phycobiliproteins|Thallus_Vacuolation|Cellular_Stress
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often rigidly associate the '2n' state exclusively with the sporophyte generation and 'n' exclusively with the gametophyte generation.
The trap relies on the misconception that a diploid cell must automatically grow into a sporophyte.
In reality, the developmental fate of a spore is to form a gametophyte (protonema in mosses); altering its ploidy simply results in a polyploid version of that gametophytic stage.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Plant Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Algal Thallus Organization |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |