Sexual and Asexual

• Happens when genetic information from two organisms is combined to produce offspring, which are genetically different from the parents
• The mother and father produce gametes by meiosis
• Each gamete contains 23 chromosomes, half the number of chromosomes in the normal cells, a gamete has one of each chromosome
• The egg and sperm fuse together (fertilisation) to form a cell with the full number of chromosomes
• The mixture of genetic information produces variation in the offspring
• There is only one parent
• The offspring is genetically identically to the parent
• Happens by mitosis, meaning the cell has exactly the same information as the parent cell. This means it's called a clone
• Sexual advantages: More offspring, more genetic variation, more chance of survival and selective breeding
• Asexual advantages: only need for one parent, less energy needed, faster and identical offspring can be produced in favourable conditions