Which of the following structures produce eggs and sperm? (Explain your answer.) a. fern sporophytes b. moss gametophytes c. the anthers of a flower d. moss sporangia

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1. Identify the life cycle stages of each option: Ferns and mosses have two distinct stages in their life cycles, the sporophyte and the gametophyte. The sporophyte produces spores, while the gametophyte produces gametes (eggs and sperm). Flowers are part of the reproductive structures of angiosperms.
2. Understand the role of gametophytes: Gametophytes are the sexual phase in the life cycle of plants that produce gametes. Therefore, any structure listed that is a gametophyte or part of the gametophyte stage will be involved in producing eggs and sperm.
3. Analyze the options: Option (a) fern sporophytes and option (d) moss sporangia are both involved in the sporophyte stage, which is responsible for producing spores, not gametes. Option (c) the anthers of a flower are part of the male reproductive structure in flowering plants and produce pollen, which contains male gametes (sperm cells).
4. Identify the correct stage for egg and sperm production: Option (b) moss gametophytes directly specifies the gametophyte stage, which is known for producing gametes, including both eggs and sperm in mosses.
5. Conclude that the structure that produces both eggs and sperm among the given options is the moss gametophytes.