Editing Embryo (section)

===Plant embryos===
{{Main|Plant embryonic development}}
{{further|Sporophyte}}
[[File:Ginkgo embryo and gametophyte.jpg|thumb|The inside of a ''[[Ginkgo]]'' seed, showing the embryo]]
Flowering plants ([[Flowering plant|angiosperms]]) create embryos after the fertilization of a haploid [[ovule]] by [[pollen]]. The DNA from the ovule and pollen combine to form a diploid, single-cell zygote that will develop into an embryo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/seed-plant-reproductive-part|title=seed {{!}} Form, Function, Dispersal, & Germination|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2022-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711150310/https://www.britannica.com/science/seed-plant-reproductive-part|url-status=live}}</ref> The zygote, which will divide multiple times as it progresses throughout embryonic development, is one part of a [[seed]]. Other seed components include the [[endosperm]], which is tissue rich in nutrients that will help support the growing plant embryo, and the seed coat, which is a protective outer covering. The first cell division of a zygote is [[Asymmetric cell division|asymmetric]], resulting in an embryo with one small cell (the apical cell) and one large cell (the basal cell).<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=http://biology.kenyon.edu/courses/biol114/Chap12/Chapter_12A.html|title=Chapter 12A. Plant Development|website=biology.kenyon.edu|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308084505/http://biology.kenyon.edu/courses/biol114/Chap12/Chapter_12A.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The small, apical cell will eventually give rise to most of the structures of the mature plant, such as the stem, leaves, and roots.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hove|first1=Colette A. ten|last2=Lu|first2=Kuan-Ju|last3=Weijers|first3=Dolf|date=2015-02-01|title=Building a plant: cell fate specification in the early Arabidopsis embryo|journal=Development|language=en|volume=142|issue=3|pages=420–430|doi=10.1242/dev.111500|issn=0950-1991|pmid=25605778|doi-access=free}}</ref> The larger basal cell will give rise to the suspensor, which connects the embryo to the endosperm so that nutrients can pass between them.<ref name=":02" /> The plant embryo cells continue to divide and progress through developmental stages named for their general appearance: globular, heart, and torpedo. In the globular stage, three basic tissue types (dermal, ground, and vascular) can be recognized.<ref name=":02" /> The dermal tissue will give rise to the [[Epidermis (botany)|epidermis]] or outer covering of a plant,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Biology-Advanced-Concepts/section/13.23/|title={{!}} CK-12 Foundation|website=www.ck12.org|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2024-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910221053/https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-advanced-biology/section/13.23/primary/lesson/Dermal-Tissue-of-Plants-Advanced-BIO-ADV/|url-status=live}}</ref> ground tissue will give rise to inner plant material that functions in [[photosynthesis]], resource storage, and physical support,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookglossG.html#ground%20system|title=GLOSSARY G|website=www2.estrellamountain.edu|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2022-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614073946/https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookglossG.html#ground%20system|url-status=dead}}</ref> and vascular tissue will give rise to connective tissue like the [[xylem]] and [[phloem]] that transport fluid, nutrients, and minerals throughout the plant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biologydictionary.net/vascular-tissue/|title=Vascular Tissue|date=2018-05-21|website=Biology Dictionary|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2022-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909043434/https://biologydictionary.net/vascular-tissue/|url-status=live}}</ref> In heart stage, one or two [[cotyledon]]s (embryonic leaves) will form. [[Meristem]]s (centers of [[stem cell]] activity) develop during the torpedo stage, and will eventually produce many of the mature tissues of the adult plant throughout its life.<ref name=":02" /> At the end of embryonic growth, the seed will usually go dormant until germination.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Penfield|first=Steven|date=2017-09-11|title=Seed dormancy and germination|journal=Current Biology|language=en|volume=27|issue=17|pages=R874–R878|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.050|issn=0960-9822|pmid=28898656|doi-access=free|bibcode=2017CBio...27.R874P }}</ref> Once the embryo begins to [[Germination|germinate]] (grow out from the seed) and forms its first true leaf, it is called a [[seedling]] or plantlet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forages.oregonstate.edu/regrowth/how-does-grass-grow/developmental-phases/vegetative-phase/germination-and-seedling|title=Germination and Seedling Emergence|date=2016-03-28|website=Forage Information System|language=en|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2022-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616125456/https://forages.oregonstate.edu/regrowth/how-does-grass-grow/developmental-phases/vegetative-phase/germination-and-seedling|url-status=live}}</ref>

Plants that produce [[spore]]s instead of seeds, like [[bryophyte]]s and [[fern]]s, also produce embryos. In these plants, the embryo begins its existence attached to the inside of the [[archegonium]] on a parental [[gametophyte]] from which the egg cell was generated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/life-cycle-in-nutshell.html|title=Life Cycle - in a nutshell - bryophyte|website=www.anbg.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14|archive-date=2022-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418220626/https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/life-cycle-in-nutshell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The inner wall of the archegonium lies in close contact with the "foot" of the developing embryo; this "foot" consists of a bulbous mass of cells at the base of the embryo which may receive nutrition from its parent gametophyte.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/plant-development|title=Plant development - Nutritional dependence of the embryo|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14|archive-date=2022-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712151801/https://www.britannica.com/science/plant-development|url-status=live}}</ref> The structure and development of the rest of the embryo varies by group of plants.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://opentextbc.ca/biology2eopenstax/chapter/bryophytes/|title=Bryophytes – Biology 2e|website=opentextbc.ca|date=5 March 2018|access-date=2019-11-14|last1=Clark|first1=Mary Ann|archive-date=2022-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503161011/https://opentextbc.ca/biology2eopenstax/chapter/bryophytes/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since all land plants create embryos, they are collectively referred to as [[embryophyte]]s (or by their scientific name, Embryophyta). This, along with other characteristics, distinguishes land plants from other types of plants, such as [[algae]], which do not produce embryos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/seaweeds/english/a/a1_01.asp|title=What are seaweeds?|website=formosa.ntm.gov.tw|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2019-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120024418/http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/seaweeds/english/a/a1_01.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>