A seed is alive while it waits. ... More than half of these seeds will die before they feel the trigger that they are waiting for, and during awful years every single one of them will die.

What happens to a seed before it germinates?

Seeds remain dormant or inactive until conditions are right for germination. All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to germinate. ... Then the seed coat breaks open and a root or radicle emerges first, followed by the shoot or plumule that contains the leaves and stem.

Are seeds dead or alive?

A seed is living. Although seeds are dormant (resting) their cells are still alive and performing typical cellular functions. Answer 3: ... They are just typically in a dormant state, which means they require very little of the resources necessary to stay alive, until they are in the appropriate conditions to grow.