Question

select the correct answer.
a botanist scrapes pollen off a flower of one plant and then uses it to pollinate the flower of another plant. what can be scientifically concluded about their offspring?
a. they will have a large amount of genetic variation.
b. they will have twice the number of chromosomes as their parents.
c. they will be genetically distinct from their parents.
d. they will be able to reproduce only asexually.

Explanation:

• Option A: Cross - pollination (as done here) introduces genetic variation, but "large amount" is not always accurate as it depends on the plants. However, let's analyze other options.
• Option B: Offspring from sexual reproduction (pollination leads to sexual reproduction in plants) have the same number of chromosomes as parents (since gametes have half, and fertilization restores the full set), so B is wrong.
• Option C: In sexual reproduction (pollination - mediated fertilization), offspring inherit a combination of genes from both parents, so they are genetically distinct from either parent. This is a key aspect of sexual reproduction.
• Option D: Offspring from sexual reproduction (like from pollination) can reproduce sexually (and some can also reproduce asexually, but the statement "only asexually" is wrong).

Answer:

C. They will be genetically distinct from their parents.