B13.1 Types of Reproduction

• What is essential to living things?

  Reproduction
• What is passed on from parents to offspring during reproduction?

  Genetic information in chromosomes
• What are the two types of reproduction?

  Asexual and sexual reproduction
• What is asexual reproduction?

  • Involves one parent
  • Cells divide by mitosis
  • No fusion of gametes
  • No genetic variation
  • Offspring are genetically identical (clones)
• Which organisms commonly reproduce asexually?

  Plants, insects, and some animals
• What is the result of asexual reproduction?

  Genetically identical offspring known as clones
• Why could a lack of variation in asexual reproduction be harmful?


  Entire populations could be wiped out by disease
• What disease are ash trees in the UK susceptible to?

  Ash dieback
• Which larger plants can reproduce asexually?

  Strawberries and brambles
• What is sexual reproduction?

  • Involves male and female gametes
  • Gametes fuse to form a zygote
  • Genetic information from both parents
  • Introduces variation in offspring
• What forms the zygote in sexual reproduction?

  Fusion of male and female gametes
• What is the process that forms gametes?

  Meiosis
• How does sexual reproduction introduce variation?

  Offspring inherit traits from both parents
• What are the gametes in plants?

  Egg cells and pollen
• What are the gametes in animals?

  Egg cells (ova) and sperm
• Why is sexual reproduction considered risky?

  It relies on two sex cells meeting
• Why is variation important for species survival?


  It enhances adaptability to changing environments
• What is the male version of sperm for plants?

  Pollination
• What is the purpose of artificial insemination in cows?

  To produce many calves from different cows
• What is a gamete?


  A gamete is a reproductive cell of an animal or plant.
• Name an example of gamete.

  In animals, female gametes are called ova (egg cells) On the other hand, male gametes are typically called sperm.
• What is the difference between a diploid and a haploid?


  Diploids have two sets of chromosomes whilst a Haploid only has one unpaired set of chromosomes.
• How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

  Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes and 46 in total.
• What is the number of parents in asexual reproduction?


  1 parent
• How many parents are involved in sexual reproduction?


  2 parents
• How many individuals are typically produced in asexual reproduction?

  Many offspring in a short time
• What is the typical number of offspring produced in sexual reproduction?

  Fewer offspring at a time
• How does the speed of asexual reproduction compare to sexual reproduction?

  Asexual reproduction is a fast process
• What is the speed of sexual reproduction?

  Slow process
• Are offspring from asexual reproduction identical or varied?

  Identical clones of the parent
• What type of offspring does sexual reproduction produce?

  Offspring show variation
• What are the main differences between asexual and sexual reproduction?

  • Number of parents:
  • Asexual: 1 parent
  • Sexual: 2 parents
  • Number of individuals produced:
  • Asexual: Many offspring quickly
  • Sexual: Fewer offspring at a time
  • Speed:
  • Asexual: Fast process
  • Sexual: Slow process
  • Offspring characteristics:
  • Asexual: Identical clones
  • Sexual: Variation from both parents