Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

• Human cells contains 23 pairs of chromosomes
• Cells divide by mitosis (one cell is copied into two identical cells)
• Gametes (cells that are not paired)
• In humans gametes are sperm cells and egg cells.
• Gametes are made by meiosis
• Meiosis produces non identical cells
• Meiosis also happens in plants and flowers. The gametes would be pollen and egg cells
• Both animals and flowering plants carry out sexual reproduction
• Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes
• In sexual reproduction, there is mixing of genetic information
• Every gamete is different so we see variation in offspring
• In asexual reproduction there is only one parent
• Asexual reproduction does not involve gametes
• In asexual reproduction there is no mixing of genetic information
• Asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring
• Asexual reproduction: offspring = clones
• Asexual reproduction only involves mitosis