Chapter 14 - Asexual Reproduction

Question 1

Banana Example

Answer 1

• Bananas are sterile; they have failed meiosis and cannot produce seeds.
• They fail meiosis because they are triploids, which can’t “pair” at metaphase
• To get a triploid you would cross a diploid and a haploid.

Question 2

Asexual Reproduction

Answer 2

• One parent
• Each offspring is genetically identical (clone)
• Common unicellular organisms
• Rarer in multicellular organisms
• Asexual reproduction is more common in prokaryotes
• Mitosis occurs (it is simply cell division)

Question 3

Unicellular Examples of Asexual Reproduction

Answer 3

1. Binary Fission

2. Budding

Question 4

Binary Fission

Answer 4

• symmetrical division

- identical structures

Question 5

Budding

Answer 5

• a symmetrical division followed by growth

- identical genetic makeup

Question 6

Multicellular Examples of Asexual Reproduction

Answer 6

1. Vegetative Reproduction
2. Regeneration (think star fish limbs)
3. Parthenogenesis

Question 7

Parthenogenesis DIAGRAM

Answer 7

• egg develops without fertilization
• the extra doubling accounts for S phase without cell division
• Entering Meiosis it has the same number of cells as the parent cell; no need for fertilization

Question 8

Benefits of Asexual Reproduction

Answer 8

1. Faster and requires less energy
2. One parent, individual can start a population
3. No mate
4. Potential for more offspring
5. Ideal combination for alleles for a stable environment

Question 9

Disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction

Answer 9

1. Low genetic diversity
2. Adaptation to the environment is less robust
3. Slower evolutionary rate (could potentially lead to extinction