a-sec-shual Flashcards
Reproductive success
An organisms ability to produce fertile offspring that survives to sexual maturity and produces offspring
similarities of asexual and sexual reproduction
- passes on DNA (method of heredity)
- produces offspring
- involves plants, fungi and animals
- forms of reproduction
differences of sexual and asexual reproduction
Sexual: 2 parents
- cells divide by meiosis
- genetic variation in offspring
- gametes produced
- generally produces minimum of 1 offsping
- found in higher organisms (mammals)
Asexual: one parent
- cells divide by mitosis, budding or fragmentation
- little chance of genetic variation
- no need to produce gametes
- generally produces minimum of 2 offspring
- found in lower organisms (bacteria)
Pros of sexual reproduction
- speeds up evolution due to genetic variation
- high genetic variability = less susceptibility to genetic disease, increases the genetic health of the species
- facilitates adaptation
Pros of asexual reproduction
- greatest increase in fitness for each individual (non taxing on either sex)
- saves energy: the process requires more energy to achieve the result
- courtship is a non-issue: less consumption of time and resources
Cons of sexual reproduction
- energy costly
- courtship is time / resource consuming
- usually sacrifices the fitness of one sex to the other - can lead to death
Cons of asexual reproduction
- less genetic variability (highly susceptible to genetic diseases)
- adaptation to environments is difficult (lack of suitable options)
- inhibits adaptation
Process of sexual reproduction
- cells enter meiosis in both parents and form gametes
- fertilisation occurs and a zygote forms - contains all the genetic information
- blastocyte forms as zygote divides by mitosis to form cells
- foetus stage is when it is sufficiently developed for life outside the uterus
Internal and External fertilisation: points to remember
- number of gametes
- location of union
- conception mechanism
- chance of fertilisation
- environment for zygote
- number of offspring
- breeding frequency
- parental investment
- examples
Internal and external: gametes
External: larger number of gametes produced as they are less likely to be fertilised
Internal: less gametes because of higher success rate. Higher number of male gametes produced.
Similarities: male and female gametes required.
Internal and external: union
Ext: aquatic environment
Int: inside the reproductive tract of female
Similarities: sperm fertilises egg when united
Internal and external: conception mechanism
Ext: simultaneous release of gametes (spawning events) regulated by environmental cues
Int: copulation
Sim: fertilisation when coming into close proximity - water environment required
Internal and external: chance of fertilisation
Ext = lower (released in large open area)
Int: higher (confined space)
Sim: if in close proximity, will fertilise
Internal and external: environment for zygote
Ext: aquatic environment - vulnerable to environmental elements
Int: protected environment, less vulnerable
Sim: requires a watery environment for development
Internal and external: number of offspring
Ext: larger number (low success rate - i.e small amount of offspring survive to sexual maturity)
Int: Usually smaller number
Internal and external: Breeding frequency
Ext: more frequent (lower fertilisation success rate)
Int: less frequent due to higher success rate
Sim: depends on requirements of species and favourability of environmental conditions
Internal and external: parental investment
Ext: usually no parental investment
Int: parental care of eggs / developing young
Sim: parental investment is indirectly proportional to number of gametes produced