Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus - Cambridge International Examinations

36
4.3 Reproduction
Content
Pollination
Fertilisation
Seeds and fruit
Cambridge Pre-U Draft
Learning outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
a) state what is meant by the terms self-pollination and cross-pollination and explain the advantages and
disadvantages of each (including reference to inbreeding)
b) explain the means by which flowering plants transfer the male gametes and ensure that they arrive in
the correct place for fertilisation limited to:
• wind pollination including adaptations of anthers, pollen and stigmatic surface
• insect pollination including reference to UV light, guides, nectar, odours, imitation of female insects
• chemotropic growth of pollen tube to embryo sac
c) outline the role of meiosis in the development of pollen and embryo sacs and of mitosis in the formation
of gametes
d) explain the significance of double fertilisation in flowering plants and describe the development of seeds
and fruits (including one endospermous seed and one non-endospermous seed).
Practical learning outcomes
Candidates should be able to:
i) investigate pollination mechanisms and pollen structure as well as growth of the pollen tube in living
pollen
ii) investigate a variety of flowers showing a range of adaptations (e.g. wind pollination and insect
pollination)
iii) investigate the structure of seeds and fruits using specimens of endospermous seeds, such as maize,
and non-endospernous seeds, such as those of legumes.
iv) Investigate seed and fruit development using fresh specimens and prepared slides of Shepherd’s purse,
Capsella bursa-pastoris.