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Why does cross-pollination lead to greater genetic diversity than self-pollination?
AThe two gametophytes come from different plants
BThe two gametophytes come from the same flower
CThe pollen tube grows more slowly in the style
DThe ovary produces more ovules after crossing
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The two gametophytes come from different plants
1. Genetic diversity lets some progeny survive when environmental or stress conditions change.
2. Self-pollination produces plants with less genetic diversity, because the gametes come from the same plant.
3. Cross-pollination gives greater diversity because the microgametophyte and megagametophyte are derived from different plants.
4. Growth rate of the pollen tube has no bearing on how much variation the offspring carry.
5. Ovule number is set by the ovary and does not change with where the pollen came from.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 32 "Plant Reproduction", section 32.2 Pollination and Fertilization_
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