What is pollination?
Q: What is pollination?
A: Pollination is part of sexual reproduction in plants, and it describes how the pollen grains get to the female parts of a plant.
Q: What does each pollen grain contain?
A: Each pollen grain contains half of the DNA (genetic information) that is needed to make a new plant.
Q: How does fertilization occur?
A: During fertilization, the DNA from the pollen grain combines with the DNA that is in the egg of the female part and a zygote is formed.
Q: What happens after fertilization?
A: In seed plants, a seed is started after fertilization.
Q: Is pollination similar to sexual reproduction in animals?
A: Yes, what happens during pollination is basically the same as sexual reproduction in animals.
Q: Does each pollen grain have all of its own genetic information?
A: No, each pollen grain only has half of its own genetic information - it needs to combine with another source for complete genetic information.
Q: How does pollination lead to new plants being created?
A: Pollen grains containing male gametes need to get to where female gamete(s) are located so that they can combine their genetic information and form a zygote which will then develop into a seed and eventually create a new plant.
