What is pollination? Types?

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma. Self-pollination: pollen to stigma of same flower. Cross-pollination: pollen transferred to a different flower (by wind, insects, water, animals). Cross-pollination leads to genetic variation.

Samacheer Kalvi 10th Science Chapter 16 MCQ — Reproduction in Plants and Animals with Answers

Chapter 16 — Reproduction in Plants and Animals: Multiple Choice Questions

1. The process of reproduction involving only one parent is called ______.

Answer

(a) Sexual reproduction (b) Asexual reproduction (c) Fertilisation (d) Gamete formation

✅ Answer: (b) Asexual reproduction

ExplanationAsexual reproduction involves a single parent and produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent (clones). No gametes or fertilisation involved. Examples: binary fission (Amoeba), budding (Hydra, yeast), sporulation, vegetative propagation.

2. Binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction seen in ______.

Answer

(a) Yeast (b) Hydra (c) Amoeba (d) Ferns

✅ Answer: (c) Amoeba

ExplanationBinary fission: The parent organism divides into two equal daughter cells. Seen in unicellular organisms: Amoeba, Paramecium, bacteria, etc. Budding: A bud grows on the parent and separates (Hydra, yeast). Spore formation: Mucor (bread mould).

3. In flowering plants, the male reproductive organ is the ______.

Answer

(a) Pistil (b) Stigma (c) Stamen (d) Ovary

✅ Answer: (c) Stamen

ExplanationIn a flower:

Stamen = male reproductive organ (filament + anther). Anther produces pollen grains.
Pistil (carpel) = female reproductive organ (stigma + style + ovary). Ovary contains ovules.
Fertilisation: pollen grain reaches stigma → pollen tube grows → male gamete fuses with egg in ovule.

4. Pollination by wind is called ______.

Answer

(a) Entomophily (b) Zoophily (c) Anemophily (d) Hydrophily

✅ Answer: (c) Anemophily

Explanation

Anemophily: Pollination by wind (e.g., wheat, rice, grasses). Pollen: light, dry, produced in large amounts.
Entomophily: Pollination by insects (e.g., flowers with nectar, colourful petals). Most common.
Hydrophily: Pollination by water (e.g., Vallisneria).
Zoophily: Pollination by animals (birds, bats).

5. Vegetative propagation is seen in ______.

Answer

(a) Amoeba (b) Potato (c) Hydra (d) Yeast

✅ Answer: (b) Potato

ExplanationVegetative propagation is asexual reproduction in plants where new plants develop from vegetative parts (roots, stems, leaves):

Potato: Stem tubers (eyes/buds grow new plants)
Ginger, turmeric: Rhizomes
Onion: Bulbs
Bryophyllum: Leaves
Strawberry: Runners (stolons)

6. The fertilised egg is called ______.

Answer

(a) Ovum (b) Gamete (c) Zygote (d) Embryo

✅ Answer: (c) Zygote

ExplanationSteps in sexual reproduction: 1. Gamete formation (meiosis): egg (♀) and sperm (♂) 2. Fertilisation: egg + sperm → Zygote (2n, diploid) 3. Zygote divides → Embryo 4. Embryo develops → new organism

7. In mammals, fertilisation occurs in the ______.

Answer

(a) Uterus (b) Ovary (c) Fallopian tube (d) Vagina

✅ Answer: (c) Fallopian tube

ExplanationIn human females:

Egg is released from ovary (ovulation)
Egg travels through the fallopian tube (oviduct)
Fertilisation by sperm usually occurs in the fallopian tube
The zygote then travels to the uterus where it implants and develops into a foetus

8. The embryo is nourished inside the mother's womb through the ______.

Answer

(a) Amnion (b) Placenta (c) Yolk sac (d) Umbilical cord alone

✅ Answer: (b) Placenta

ExplanationThe placenta is a special organ that develops during pregnancy, connecting the embryo to the uterine wall. It allows exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste between mother's blood and foetal blood without direct blood mixing. The umbilical cord connects the placenta to the foetus.

9. Regeneration as a form of reproduction is seen in ______.

Answer

(a) Hydra (also) (b) Frog (c) Starfish (d) Rabbit

✅ Answer: (c) Starfish

ExplanationRegeneration is the ability to regrow lost body parts into a complete organism. Starfish can regenerate a whole organism from a single arm (if it contains part of the central disc). Hydra shows both regeneration and budding. Planaria (flatworm) also regenerates.

10. The stage of development where the embryo is implanted in the uterus is called ______.

Answer

(a) Fertilisation (b) Ovulation (c) Implantation (d) Gastrulation

✅ Answer: (c) Implantation

ExplanationAfter fertilisation in the fallopian tube, the zygote divides as it travels toward the uterus. It becomes a blastocyst (ball of cells) by the time it reaches the uterus (about 5–7 days). The blastocyst embeds into the uterine wall — this is called implantation.

Quick Revision — Reproduction Types

Type	Example	Key Feature
Binary fission	Amoeba, Bacteria	Cell splits in two
Budding	Hydra, Yeast	Bud grows then separates
Sporulation	Mucor (mould)	Spores produced
Vegetative propagation	Potato, Ginger	New plant from vegetative parts
Regeneration	Starfish, Planaria	New organism from fragments
Sexual (fertilisation)	All higher animals	Gametes fuse → zygote

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Frequently Asked Questions

Asexual reproduction: one parent, no gametes, offspring genetically identical (clones). Examples: budding (Hydra), binary fission (Amoeba), spore formation (Mucor), vegetative propagation (plants). Sexual reproduction: two parents (usually), gametes fuse (fertilisation), offspring genetically varied.