Which term correctly describes the dominant multicellular stage in fungi, green algae, and many protozoa?

Which term correctly describes the dominant multicellular stage in fungi, green algae, and many protozoa?

• A. Haplontic
• B. Diplontic
• C. Haplodiplontic
• D. Isogamy cycle

Answer: (A)

The main idea is which life stage forms the majority of the organism’s life. In a haplontic life cycle, the multicellular body is haploid, and the diploid stage is only a brief zygote that immediately undergoes meiosis to produce haploid offspring. This matches fungi, green algae, and many protozoa, whose visible, long-lasting form is haploid. The diploid phase exists briefly as a zygote and is not the dominant stage. This differs from a diplontic pattern, where the organism’s body is mainly diploid (as in animals), and from a haplodiplontic pattern, where both haploid and diploid multicellular generations are long-lasting. The term isn’t isogamy cycle, which isn’t the standard way to describe the dominance of haploid versus diploid generations.

The main idea is which life stage forms the majority of the organism’s life. In a haplontic life cycle, the multicellular body is haploid, and the diploid stage is only a brief zygote that immediately undergoes meiosis to produce haploid offspring. This matches fungi, green algae, and many protozoa, whose visible, long-lasting form is haploid. The diploid phase exists briefly as a zygote and is not the dominant stage. This differs from a diplontic pattern, where the organism’s body is mainly diploid (as in animals), and from a haplodiplontic pattern, where both haploid and diploid multicellular generations are long-lasting. The term isn’t isogamy cycle, which isn’t the standard way to describe the dominance of haploid versus diploid generations.