Sexual and Asexual reproduction

• Asexual reproduction does not involve the fusion of gametes.
• Asexual reproduction has offspring that are genetically identical to the parent, called clones.
• Sexual reproductions involves the fusion of gametes from two parents.
• Sexual reproduction has a mix of genetic information so the offspring show variation.
• The more variety there is in a species, the more likely it is that the species will survive difficult conditions.
• Both plants and animals reproduce sexually.
• What is a somatic cell?

  Refers to a body cell, except for the gametes.
• What is mitosis?

  Mitosis is the process of cell division in which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells.
• What is meiosis?

  Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sex cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
• Meiosis starts with one diploid parent cell. The chromosomes within duplicate. These copies of the chromosomes move to opposite poles of the cell. The cell membrane pinches in and forms two new cells.
• In the second division in meiosis, chromosomes do not duplicate. Chromatids are pulled to opposite ends of the cells. The cell membrane pinches in and forms two new cells. We end up with four new cells.
• In mitosis, the parent cell's chromosomes make identical copies. They are pulled to separate poles of the cell and the cell membrane pinches in to form two identical daughter cells.
• How are babies made?

  The egg and sperm cell contain half the chromosomes of every other body cell. They have 23 lone chromosomes. When the nucleus of the egg and sperm cell unite, the fertilised egg (zygote) now has 23 pairs or 46 lone chromosomes. The zygote then has the ability to divide by mitosis to form a genetically different organism.