- involves a single parent that produces genetically identical offspring. Bacteria reproduce asexually by a process called binary fission. Corals reproduce asexually by budding off offspring.

- involves two parents who combine their genes to produce genetically unique offspring.

- are cells that have two sets of chromosomes (each set is derived from a parent)

- are diploid cells that make up the body of the organism. Early in an individual’s development, a select number of diploid cells will be set aside to undergo a process called meiosis, in which the resulting haploidcells will have only one set of chromosomes (half that of diploid cells). The haploid cells that result from meiosis will be able to take part in sexual reproduction, thus they are called sex cells, or gametes - the cells that make up the body of an organism. Somatic cells cannot take part in sexual reproduction because they have too many chromosomes. In the diagram on the left, two cells with 46 chromosomes will produce a cell with 92 chromosomes. The goal of sexual reproduction is offspring that have the same number of chromosomes as the parents, in this case 46.

- Natural selection can favor sexual reproduction, as opposed to asexual reproduction, because sexual reproduction results in a greater variety of offspring. Sexual reproduction involves combining of genes of two parents and the formation of recombinants, offspring that have a new combination of genes. A greater variety of offspring increases the likelihood of survivorship in an uncertain environment.

- so called sex cells or germ cells) are the cells that take part in sexual reproduction. The number of chromosomes in a gamete is half of that found in a somatic cell from the same organism. To become gametes, cells must undergo a reductive division called meiosis. After meiosis, human gametes have 23 chromosomes (recall that human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes). A sperm with 23 chromosomes can fertilize an egg that has 23 chromosomes to produce an offspring that has 46 chromosomes.

8.3.1 Sexual Reproduction and the Role of Meiosis Flashcards by Irina Soloshenko

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8.3.1 Sexual Reproduction and the Role of Meiosis Flashcards

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