How does a seed typically develop?

A seed typically develops as an embryo that absorbs water and nutrients from the surrounding tissue. This process begins once a seed is formed after fertilization, and it often remains dormant until environmental conditions are favorable for germination. During the initial stages of seed development, the embryo relies on the endosperm or cotyledons, which serve as nutritional sources to support growth. This nutrient absorption is crucial for the seed to swell and ultimately break through the seed coat when it's ready to sprout, leading to the new plant's development.

The other options do not accurately represent the typical development process of a seed. Seeds do not grow directly from the parent plant nor begin as flowers; rather, flowers are a reproductive structure that play a role in the creation of seeds after fertilization. Additionally, while sunlight is essential for the growth of plants once they germinate, seeds themselves do not develop exclusively in response to light, especially during their early formation and germination stages.