Story of the Seed-The Brussels Sprouts Brief

     After looking at our plant recently, I realized it was hardly recognizable compared to the tiny stub it used to be. It has grown from a few small leaves to a foot-tall brussel sprout plant. But how did it grow to be so large?      Plants start out as a seed as small as a rough grain of sand. They eventually grow to be much, much larger, and there are reasons for this. The first reason is that the cells within the plant are constantly multiplying. Each cell eventually splits in two through a system called Mitosis. For Mitosis to take place the plant requires energy. That energy is gained in another cellular activity called photosynthesis.      Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts in a cell, where sunlight causes enzymes to break down oxygen and hydrogen. When oxygen is released, electrons move down the electron transport chain, where hydrogen ions and the free electrons come together to convert NADP to NADPH. ADP is also converted to ATP inside the thylakoid membrane. I

         Fertilization is the primary way for a plant to reproduce. The main element in fertilization is actually pollen, which most often is brought to a plant from the wind or an insect such as a butterfly. The origin for pollen in fertilization is at the anther, that section of a plant that holds pollen. The pollen is then transferred to the stigma(a part of the pistil which is the female segments of the flower). Flowers such as the Brassica oleracea, have both the male and female parts to reproduce. In the stigma, there is a tube that leads down to the ovary which in turn, has the ovules, and the eggs. The pollen and an ovule must combine together to create a seed. So in arbitrary, the pollen starts at the top of the flower on the anthers. It transfers to the stigma and travels down the tube. When it reaches an ovule, it bursts and two male gametes are released. One gamete blends with the egg and the other does so with the polar nuclei (cells in the embryo sack of the plant).

In order for a plant to reproduce, it needs to go through fertilization.  The main ingredient in fertilization is pollen, which is usually brought to flower either by the wind or from an insect such as a bee.  The starting point for the pollen in fertilization is at the anther, the part of the plant that contains the pollen.  The pollen is then transferred to the stigma, a part of the pistil which is the female parts of the flowers.  Flowers such as the brassica oleracea, have both the male and female parts to reproduce.  In the stigma, there is a tube that leads down to the ovary which in turn, has the ovules, the eggs.  The pollen and an ovule must combine together to create seed.  So in summary, pollen starts out at the top of the flower on the anthers.  It transfers to the stigma and travels down the tube.  When it reaches an ovule, it bursts and two male gametes are released.  One gamete fuses with the egg and the other fuses with the polar nuclei, cells in the embryo sack of the

The way that plants and animals sexually reproduce are very similar. In both instances the female and the male provide one gamete that contain genetic materials for the offspring. This is an image of  the male reproductive system, the Stamen. The Stamen produces pollen which in some ways is similar to sperm for animals. This is an image of the female reproductive system known as the carpel or pistil. When some pollen lands on this,  it will create a tube that connects the ovaries to the ovules. Because of this genetic information is able to get from the pollen ad into the ovaries so, this will create an embryo  that will become a seed.