Reproduction

• Reproduction is a biological process by which a living organism produces offspring similar to itself
• Reproduction is not essential for survival but helps in the perpetuation of species
• Information is transferred from parents to offspring in the form of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
• DNA is a genetic material found in chromosomes present in the nucleus of the cell
• There are two types of reproduction: sexual and asexual
• Sexual reproduction requires two parents and involves the fusion of male and female gametes
• Sexual reproduction allows for more variations in offspring
• In angiosperms (flowering plants), the flower is the reproductive part
• Parts of a flower include sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels/pistils
• Bisexual flowers have both stamens and carpels (e.g., Hibiscus), while unisexual flowers have either stamens or carpels (e.g., corn)
• Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of the same or different flower
• Fertilization is the fusion of male and female gametes
• In humans, development into an adult or reaching maturity is essential for reproduction, which occurs after puberty
• The male reproductive system includes testes, vas deferens, prostate gland, and seminal vesicles
• The female reproductive system includes ovaries, oviducts, uterus, and vagina
• Menstruation occurs if the egg is not fertilized, where the uterus lining breaks down and is released through the vagina
• The zygote repeatedly divides to form a ball of cells, which then differentiate into tissues and organs, forming an embryo
• Embryo development includes attachment to the uterus wall and the formation of various body parts, leading to the development of a fetus
• Vegetative propagation in plants involves new plants forming from vegetative parts like root, stem, and leaves
• Advantages of vegetative propagation include propagation for seedless plants, producing exact copies of parent plants, and producing large numbers of offspring
• Artificial methods of vegetative propagation include cutting, layering, grafting, micropropagation, and hybridization
• Asexual reproduction does not involve the fusion of gametes and requires only one parent, producing exact copies of the parent
• Modes of asexual reproduction include fission, multiple fission, fragmentation, regeneration, and budding
• Sexually transmitted diseases are infections transferred through sexual contact, such as herpes, HIV-AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.
• Contraceptive methods to avoid pregnancy include natural methods, barrier methods, oral contraceptives, implants, and surgical methods