Asexual & Sexual Reproduction

Question 1

What is the cell cycle? What are the 3 stages?

Answer 1

The cell cycle is the stages the cell goes through. The 3 stages of the cell cycle are interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.

Question 2

What happens during interphase? List the phases and explain.

Answer 2

There are three phases in interphase, G1, S-phase, and G2. During G1 the cell grows. The cell takes nutrients from your blood and uses them as food. After growing for a while, all the organelles are duplicated to prepare for cell division. In S-phase, the DNA is replicated. DNA is replicated due to a process called replication. In replication, the double helix of DNA unwinds and extra nitrogen bases match up with each half of the DNA molecule. Lastly, in G2 the cell continues to grow.

Question 3

What is mitosis?

Answer 3

Mitosis is the second stage of the cell cycle. Mitosis consists of 4 phases, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Mitosis is the process of a parent cell creating two identical daughter cells.

Question 4

What is cytokinesis?

Answer 4

Cytokinesis is a word used for when a cell divides. Cytokinesis is the process of 1 cell becoming 2 cells after mitosis.

Question 5

What are the 5 types of asexual reproduction? What are some examples of organisms that use these types of asexual reproduction?

Answer 5

The five types of asexual reproduction are binary fission, budding, fragmentation, vegetative reproduction, and spore formation.

Binary Fission:
Bacteria

Budding:
Hydra and sea sponge

Fragmentation:
Starfish

Vegetative Reproduction:
Strawberry

Spore Formation:
Mushroom

Question 6

What is meiosis?

Answer 6

Meiosis is a type of cell division used to create gametes which are sex cells. Meiosis unlike mitosis creates 4 cells with different DNA.

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 7

An advantage of sexual reproduction is genetic variety. Genetic variety can assist an organism by increasing its survival rate and adaptability to its environment.
A disadvantage of sexual reproduction would be the amount of time and energy needed to create offspring. A mate must be found, the egg must be fertilized by sperm, and then the offspring has to develop.

Question 8

How is a zygote made using gametes?

Answer 8

Zygote is made by the process called fertilization. Fertilization is the process of a sperm penetrating the egg resulting in the formation of a zygote.

Question 9

What is the difference between identical twins and fraternal twins?

Answer 9

An identical twin is when a zygote splits into 2 parts. A fraternal twin is when 2 eggs are fertilized by 2 different sperm. Identical twins have the same DNA while fraternal twins share about 50% of their DNA.

Question 10

Where does pregnancy take place?

Answer 10

Pregnancy takes place in the uterus.

Question 11

What are the male and female sites where sperm and eggs occur?

Answer 11

In females, egg cells are created in the ovaries. In males, sperm cells are created in the testicles.

Question 12

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis in regard to the type of cells that use mitosis and meiosis?

Answer 12

Mitosis is used by all body cells except nerve cells and meiosis is used by gametes, sperm and eggs.

Question 13

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis in regard to number of chromosomes?

Answer 13

Mitosis creates 2 identical cells with 46 chromosomes, while meiosis creates 4 cells with 23 chromosomes each. Cells created using meiosis are haploid and cells created using mitosis are diploid.

Question 14

What are stem cells and their use in humans?

Answer 14

Stem cells are cells within the body that have the potential to become many different types of cells.

Question 15

What happens during prophase?

Answer 15

In prophase, the first thing that happens is the vanishing of the nuclear membrane. The cell wants the chromosomes out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm. Then the centrioles get into position and create spindle fibres. The centrioles should be at opposite ends and the spindle fibres should be attached to the centromeres.

Question 16

What happens during metaphase?

Answer 16

In metaphase, the chromosomes align at the equator of the cell. Before metaphase, all the chromosomes are scattered. The spindle fibres attached to the centromeres drag the chromosomes to the right place.

Question 17

What happens during anaphase?

Answer 17

In anaphase, the chromosomes get split in half and are dragged to opposite ends of the cell. Once the chromosomes reach opposite ends the spindle fibres detach.

Question 18

What happens during telophase?

Answer 18

In telophase, the cell begins to divide and the nucleus reforms. Once telophase is over, the cell divides into two identical cells.

Question 19

What happens in meiosis 1?

Answer 19

In meiosis 1 the first thing that happens is prophase 1. In prophase 1, chromosomes will line up in homologous pairs and cross over exchanging their DNA. Next in metaphase 1, the homologous pairs will line up at the equator of the cell. Then in anaphase 1, chromosomes are pulled to separate ends. Lastly, in telophase 1, the cell begins to divide and the nuclei reform.

Question 20

What happens in meiosis 2?

Answer 20

In meiosis 2, the first thing that happens is prophase 2. In prophase 2 the nucleus disappears and spindle fibres are created by the centrioles. Then in metaphase 2, the spindle fibres attached to the centrosomes align the chromosomes at the equator. Next in anaphase 2, the chromosomes are split into two chromatids and separated to opposite ends. Lastly, in telophase 2, the cells will begin to divide and the nuclei reform. After meiosis 2, there should be 4 haploid cells called gametes.

Question 21

What are the advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 21

An advantage of asexual reproduction is that only one parent is needed to create offspring. This process is more time efficient and can lead to many offsprings being created rapidly. A disadvantage of asexual reproduction would be that there is limited genetic diversity. The population of an organism cannot adapt to the changes in the environment which can lead to extinction.