sexual and asexual reproduction

• Main ways organisms can reproduce


  • Sexual reproduction
  • Asexual reproduction
• Some organisms like plants can reproduce through either sexual or asexual reproduction
• Most animals have to rely on sexual reproduction
• Bacteria all reproduce asexually
• Sexual reproduction


  Involves the fusion of male and female gametes (fertilization), each containing genetic information from the mother or father.
• Offspring from sexual reproduction contain a mixture of their parents' genes and are genetically different
• Gametes


  Cells like sperm and eggs in animals, or pollen and eggs in flowering plants
• Gametes only have half the genetic material of a normal cell
• Meiosis


  The process by which gametes are produced
• Sexual reproduction doesn't have to involve sex or intercourse, it just refers to the fusion of male and female gametes
• Asexual reproduction


  Takes place with only one parent and doesn't involve any gametes
• Asexual reproduction results in offspring that are identical clones with no genetic variation
• Asexual reproduction in eukaryotic organisms

  Achieved through mitosis
• Asexual reproduction in prokaryotic organisms

  Achieved through binary fission
• Fertilisation


  The fusion of male of female gametes.
• Sperm and egg cells are haploid cells and only have 23 chromosomes. When a sperm fertilises the egg though, they form a diploid cell that has 46 chromosomes.
• How many parents are involved in asexual reproduction?

  One.
• As a result of asexual reproduction, are the offspring genetically identical or genetically unique?

  Genetically identical