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Question #47539
The Question
During the development of a moss sporophyte, a researcher applies a targeted hormonal inhibitor that completely arrests intercalary meristematic activity while leaving apical cell determinacy intact. Based on the structural differentiation of bryophyte sporophytes, which of the following will be the most likely outcome?
Options
- A.
The sporophyte will fail to attach to the gametophyte, becoming an independent photosynthetic structure.
- B.
The sporophyte will develop into a truncated structure where the capsule is directly adjacent to the foot, mimicking the simpler sporophyte of certain liverworts.
- C.
The sporophyte will form an elongated seta but fail to undergo sporogenous tissue differentiation, resulting in a sterile capsule.
- D.
The sporophyte will undergo reverse differentiation, forming a haploid secondary protonema directly from the diploid foot region.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Bryophyte Sporophyte Anatomy|Homologous Organ Ancestry|Pteridophyte Prothallus Nature
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Understanding that the bryophyte sporophyte develops via distinct, modular meristematic zones rather than as a single indivisible unit.
Students often fail to distinguish between intercalary growth (seta) and apical differentiation (capsule), and mistakenly assume any developmental disruption breaks the sporophyte's obligate dependency on the gametophyte.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Plant Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Bryophyte Sporophyte Anatomy |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |