Chapter 11.4.1 (Exam 2) Asexual Reproduction Flashcards
Cell Division Plays Important Roles in the Sexual Life Cycle
What is asexual reproduction based on?
Mitosis: a single-celled organism reproduces itself with each cell cycle; some multicellular organisms also reproduce asexually
What is one example of asexual reproduction in a multicellular organism?
Aspen trees have shoots that sprout from the root system
All the trees in a stand may be clones of a single parent
What is a clear distinction between sexual and asexual reproduction at a cellular level?
Offspring are not identical to the parent cells
What are gametes?
Gametes are created by meiosis; each parent contributes one gamete to an offspring
Gametes contain only one set of chromosomes—one homolog of each pair
What is fertilization?
2 haploid gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote
What are somatic cells?
Body cells not specialized for reproduction
Each somatic cell has homologous pairs of chromosomes with corresponding, but not identical, genes
What is the chromosome number of gametes?
Gametes are haploid (n)
What is the chromosome number of most somatic cells?
Somatic cells are generally diploid (2n)
