EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Alternation of generations means that plants alternate between two different life stages, or generations, in their life cycle; a haploid stage called gametophyte and a diploid stage called sporophyte . The terms haploid and diploid refer to the number of chromosomes contained in the cells.

Detailed explanation-2: -Alternation of generations is common in plants, algae, and fungi. This can be compared to the sexual reproduction in animals where both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation. Plants alternate between the diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte, and between asexual and sexual reproduction.

Detailed explanation-3: -The sexual phase, called the gametophyte generation, produces gametes, or sex cells, and the asexual phase, or sporophyte generation, produces spores asexually. In terms of chromosomes, the gametophyte is haploid (has a single set of chromosomes), and the sporophyte is diploid (has a double set).

Detailed explanation-4: -The gametophyte stage, or generation in the alternation of generations life cycle, is the haploid (n) stage. The gametophyte stage can also be thought of as the sexual stage because it will produce the gametes, or sex cells. This stage only has one set of chromosomes.

Detailed explanation-5: -Alternation of generations is a type of life cycle found in terrestrial plants and some algae in which subsequent generations of individuals alternate between haploid and diploid organisms. This can be contrasted to sexual reproduction in animals, in which both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation.