Biology Department 1st year

First Lesson

The Reproduction Cycle of Vascular Plants Compared to

Humans.
Reproduction systems are some of the most interesting and diverse
biological systems available for study by the scientific community. Determining
how plants, animals and other organisms reproduce often provides key insight
into (their) qualities and characteristics. One of the most interesting reproductive
systems in the world is the system within vascular plants. Unlike humans, which
have a comparably straightforward method of reproduction, vascular plants
boast a much more intricate reproductive process.
In humans, the reproductive cycle is well documented. It requires one female and
one male to contribute an egg specimen and sperm specimen, respectively. Only
after the egg and sperm have united is the new genetic code complete, and a new
human can begin to grow. This type of reproduction is called sexual
reproduction. Vascular plants are also capable of this type of reproduction.
Instead of eggs and sperm, however, plants have carpels and stamens. Stamens
produce pollen, (which) act as the equivalent to sperm. Bugs or wind then carry
the pollen to new plants, where the genetic material enters the plant’s carpel.
Once they are united, the plant can begin to produce seeds for a new generation.
Sexual reproduction, however, is not the sole way that vascular plants reproduce.
While sexual reproduction requires two genetic donors, asexual reproduction –
the other avenue for plant reproduction – requires only one. This method of
reproduction does not produce a genetically different plant. When plants practice
asexual reproduction, they are essentially making a copy of their DNA. Individual
cells on these plants are capable of producing entirely new generations. Plants do
(this) by sending out special stems that can develop new plants. With asexual
reproduction, plants either already posses both sets of needed DNA or develop
asexual organs to contribute to reproduction. Humans, on the other hand, have
absolutely no means of asexual reproduction. Even when humans are born with
abnormal reproductive organ structures that include both male and female
genitalia (such as with intersex situations), they are incapable of asexual
reproduction. The only way mankind has been able to emulate asexual
reproduction is through cloning experiments.

Words’ meaning:

Carpel: female reproductive organ of flowers.

Stamens: male fertilizing organ of a flower.

1
Text Questions:

1-What does the concept reproduction systems mean?

2-What are the types of reproductive system?

3-Whose Reproductive system is complicated, is it for plants or humans? Why?

4-With whom does the asexual reproduction correspond, is it with plants or

humans?

5- To what extent do the plants need to just one genetic donor instead two genetic
donors? Explain.

6-How can the mankind practice the reproduction of asexual?

7- According to this text, which is about the plants and humans and their
functions in the environment, what is the exact biological branch that
corresponds these two organisms, is it Botany, or zoology?

8-Give one example about the evolutionary biology.

Grammar text questions:

1- In which tense this text is expressed? Why?

2- Ask question about the underlined words in the text.

3- What do the words that are between brackets in the text refer to?

Their 1§ which 2§ this 3§

4- What does the linking word “unlike” express in the text?

5-Give other kinds of linking words from the text and identity them to what do
they express.