Reproduction

Reproduction is a biological process by which parents produce offspring

and pass on genetic information from generation to generation

Significance of Reproduction:

Reproduction is important to human beings because it is essential for the

continuation of human civilization and the formation of
[Link] ensures the continuity of the species and keeps it
from becoming extinct.

Types of Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction

In this mode of reproduction, a new offspring is produced by the

involvement or participation of single parents only. The produced offsprings
are not only identical but are also the exact copies of their parent because,
in this process, a single parent divides itself to reproduce its offspring.

The different types of asexual reproduction are as follows.

1. Budding
2. Fragmentation
3. Binary fission
4. Vegetative propagation

Budding is an asexual reproduction method in which a new organism

develops from a bud of an existing organism. Until the new organism
matures, it remains attached to the parent organism. Hydra and yeast, for
example, reproduce by budding.

Budding is an asexual mode of producing new organisms. In this process,

a new organism is developed from a small part of the parent’s body. A bud
which is formed detaches to develop into a new organism.
Hydras are ground plants which uses photosynthesis to grow. By their
name, they get it by having 3 plants in one pot. This allows it to triple the
photosynthesis the Hydra has. Hydra also has a pot attached to the ground
due to roots. The roots hold together, and Hydras are special plants

Fragmentation

Fragmentation, also known as a splitting method of reproduction and is

seen in many organisms such as cyanobacteria, fungi, many plants, and
also in animals including flatworms, sponges, some annelid worms and sea
stars.

In general, fragmentation refers to the state or the process of breaking

into smaller parts, called fragments. In biology, it may refer to the
reproductive fragmentation process as a form of asexual reproduction.
Binary Fission

What is binary fission? In biology, binary fission is a type of asexual

reproduction where a parent cell divides, resulting in two identical cells,
each having the potential to grow to the size of the original cell

Binary Fission, meaning ‘getting divided into half’ is a type of asexual

reproduction where a single living cell grows twice its size and then splits to
form two identical cells
Some examples of organisms that do binary fission include any
bacteria.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that is commonly found in the lower intestine
of warm-blooded organisms

[Link] bacteria make a toxin (a poisonous substance) that can damage the lining of
the small intestine. This can lead to bad stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea
(often with blood in it). When that happens, people can get dehydrated.
Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative propagation is a method of making a new plant from the parts of

a parent plant, such as leaves, roots, and stems. Since the process
involves the reproduction of plants without seeds, it is a form of
asexual reproduction in plants.
Advantages of Asexual Reproduction:

1) It is carried out by a single individual, hence does not require finding a

mate

2) The process is faster compared to sexual reproduction

3) Less energy is invested comparatively

4) The whole process is less complicated as it involves only a single

individual

5) Can take place in varied environments

The disadvantages of asexual reproduction include:

1) It does not lead to genetic variation in a population.

2) The species may only be suited to one habitat.
3) Disease may affect all the individuals in a population.

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Sexual reproduction is the formation of a new individual following the union of

two gametes
A gamete is a reproductive cell of an animal or plant. In animals, female gametes are called
ova or egg cells, and male gametes are called sperm
A zygote is a fertilized egg, the result of when an egg cell and a sperm cell combine.
The process takes about 24 hours, and it marks the start of pregnancy.

Human babies start out as a single fertilized egg (zygote) that quickly becomes an
embryo, which is the name given to an unborn baby .

A developing human is referred to as an embryo during weeks 3–8, and a fetus from the
ninth week of gestation until birth

In this mode of reproduction, a new offspring is produced by the

participation of two parents of the opposite sex. This type of reproduction is
seen in birds, reptiles, dogs, cats, cattle, elephants, etc. The complete
process of sexual reproduction consists of a set of events, including:

 Pre-fertilization
 Fertilization
 Post-fertilization
Pre-fertilisation is the process that occurs before the actual fertilization, i.e.
the process before the fusion of gametes. There are two events that occur
before fertilization: Gametogenesis: Formation of male and female
gametes. Gamete transfer: Bringing the male and female gametes togethe

The process of production of sperms or male gametes is

called spermatogenesis and the maturation of sperms into motile forms is
called spermiogenesis. Ovulation is the release of the egg or the female
gamete from the ovaries, while oogenesis is the production of egg cells.

Fertilization in HumansFertilization is the natural life process, which is

carried out by the fusion of both male and female gametes, which results in
the formation of a zygote. In humans, the process of fertilization takes
place in the fallopian tube.

What are fallopian tubes?

Eggs pass from the ovaries, through the fallopian tubes, to the uterus.

FALLOPIAN TUBE - carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus.

[Link] fallopian tubes are important for female fertility. They are the passageways for the
eggs to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. During conception:

[Link] ovary releases an egg, which travels into the fallopian tube.

[Link] travels into the fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg.

[Link] resulting embryo is nourished and transported to the uterus where the pregnancy
continues.

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OVARIES. The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system that
produces eggs and female hormones.

UTERUSh. The uterus is where a fetus (unborn baby) develops and grows. Also
called womb.

Cervix allows fluids, such as menstrual blood, to pass from the uterus into
the vagina. It also widens during the birth of a baby. The cervix connects
the vagina to the uterus. It plays a major role in the menstrual cycle, fertility,
pregnancy, and childbirth.

Vagina - the inside passageway to the cervix and uterus. It receives the
penis during sex and serves as the birth canal during childbirth. It is where
babies come out. Cervix - the organ that surrounds the opening from the
vagina to the uterus. Uterus (womb) - the hollow organ where a baby
develops.

A vagina is an opening in a woman's body that goes back to her uterus. In

sex, the man's penis goes into the vagina. In birth, the baby comes out of
the vagina.

Post fertilization events refer to events occurring after fertilization of male and
female gametes. Implantation is the process of attaching an embryo to the walls
of the uterus. Hence implantation is a post-fertilization event.

Advantages of Sexual Reproduction:

 The involvement of two parents results in the intermingling of genes

resulting in the production of a new offspring.
 Genetically identical offspring are produced.
 Variations in species increase the chances of survival, hence the
evolutionary advancements.
 A form of asexual reproduction in which a new individual develops from
some generative anatomical point of the parent organism.
Four disadvantages of sexual reproduction are:

[Link] takes time and effort to find a mate.

[Link] offspring are produced.

[Link] is not always successful.

[Link] genes may not be passed down to the offspring.

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF PLANTS

 Flowering plants reproduce sexually through a process called

pollination. Flowers contain male sex organs called stamens and
female sex organs called pistils. The anther is the part of the
stamen that contains pollen. Pollen contains the male gametes.

How do plants with flowers reproduce

sexually?
Flowering plants are known as ‘angiosperms’. Angiosperms have stems,
roots, and leaves. They produce seeds and have male and female organs
within the flowers. Those plants reproduce by ‘pollination’.

Pollination is the process by which pollen is taken from ‘anthers’ (part of

male sex organs, where the pollen is made) to the ‘stigma’ (female part of
the flower). The pollen is carried by wind or insects to fertilize the egg and
forms the seed.
Plants can either ‘self-pollinate’ or ‘cross-pollinate’:

Self-pollination occurs when the pollen of a plant fertilizes its own egg.

Cross-pollination happens when the pollen travels from anthers to the

stigma of a flower from a different plant.

Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to

the stigma of another flower on a different individual of the same
species. Self-pollination occurs in flowers where the stamen and carpel
mature at the same time, and are positioned so that the pollen can land on
the flower's stigma.F

What are three examples of self-pollination?

Many, but not all, crops are self-pollinating. This includes: beans), broccoli,
cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, kohlrabi, onions, and peppers. Fruit
trees also self-pollinate including apples, cherries, peaches, and pears.
What is an example of a self-pollinating plant?

self-pollinated plants examples Wheat, barley, oats, rice, tomatoes,

potatoes, apricots, and peaches are some examples of self-pollinating
plants.