Chapter 24

As readers of the evolution section of this book know, a lack of genetic diversity can be harmful to a population of living things (see Chapter 17, page 308, for more). Can you think of an aspect of plant functioning that (a) has grown more sophisticated over evolutionary time and that (b) helps ensure genetic diversity among plants?

All plant cells have a relatively thick and often strong cell wall, but no animal cells have such a feature. Why does it make sense that plant and animal cells should differ in this way?

How are the bryophytes of the plant kingdom like the amphibians of the animal kingdom?