Plant and embryo

[Anandi]

In what ways a (i) A plant embryo inside a seed and (ii) a Human embryo inside its mother, protected?
(i) Plant embryo inside a seed is protected from bacteria and fungi to a certain extent by the thick testa the embryo is usually placed between the cotyledons and this protects them from mechanical damage to a certain extent Many seeds have testa which is indigestible to birds and small mammals and this enables the seed to be egested with the embryo undamaged

(ii) Human embryo is protected inside the uterus of the mother. it is surrounded by amniotic fluid which acts as a shock absorber and protects it from mechanical injuries. The amniotic fluids also keep the embryo moist and prevent sudden changes in temperature. Arlibodies from the mother blood also protects the embryo from pathogens. The embryo is protected from predators as it is inside the mother’s womb

(b) Seeds are usually produced in large numbers whilst human embryo is usually
Produced. Suggest explanations for this difference.

All the seeds produced by flowering plants do not get a chance to germinate and eventually become mature plants. Many of these seeds are eaten by animals. A large number of them do not reach favorable areas where the conditions necessary for germination and subsequent growth are not present. Many of them fall under the parent tree where they complete against each other for water, light and mineral salts. Many of the young plants are eaten by animals. Therefore a flowering plant has to produce of them can survive and develop into mature plant.



Human embryos develop in the protected environment of the mother’s womb. They are able to able to obtain nourishment from the mother blood and are sure to survive the development stage in the womb. There is no chance of human stage in the womb. There is no chance of the human embryos or the human embryo is not dependent on the external
factors. Therefore the human embryo needs to be produced only one at a time.