Inheritance and Variation

• Asexual reproduction


  Involves only one parent producing an identical offspring by dividing in two. It does not require fertilisation.
• Asexual reproduction


  • Strawberry plants produce runners to make new plants
• Sexual reproduction


  Involves a male and female gamete (sperm and egg) coming together to produce a single cell called a zygote.
• Sexual reproduction


  • Allows for variation. Offspring has characteristics of both mum and dad.
• Variation


  Where members of the same species differ. Some characteristics are inherited others are acquired.
• Chromosomes


  Long thread-like structures found in the nucleus, made of DNA.
• Genes


  Sections of DNA located on the chromosome that code for inherited characteristics e.g. eye colour.

  
• Mutations


  Changes in the DNA during reproduction that give rise to variations.
• Genetic inheritance can be identified by doing genetic crosses.