Discuss with your teacher about (i) haploid insects and lower plants where cell-division occurs, and (ii) some haploid cells in higher plants where cell-division does not occur.

(i) Haploid Insects and Lower Plants Where Cell Division Occurs

• Haploid Insects:

  • In certain insect species, such as honeybees, ants, and wasps, males (drones) are haploid.

  • These males develop from unfertilized eggs and possess only one set of chromosomes.

  • Despite being haploid, these insects undergo cell division during their development.

  • This process is essential for their growth and maturation.

• Lower Plants:

  • In lower plants like algae, bryophytes (e.g., mosses), and pteridophytes (e.g., ferns), the dominant phase is the haploid gametophyte.

  • These gametophytes are multicellular and arise from haploid spores.

  • They produce gametes (sperm and eggs) through mitotic divisions.

  • The fertilization of these gametes leads to the formation of a diploid zygote, which develops into the sporophyte generation.

(ii) Some Haploid Cells in Higher Plants Where Cell Division Does Not Occur

• Haploid Cells in Higher Plants:

  • In higher plants, such as angiosperms (flowering plants), certain haploid cells do not undergo further cell division.

  • Examples include the synergids and antipodal cells found in the embryo sac of the ovule.

  • Synergids assist in guiding the pollen tube towards the egg cell during fertilization.

  • Antipodal cells are present at the opposite end of the embryo sac, and their exact function remains less understood.

  • These cells do not divide and remain in a static state throughout their existence.