Module 5: Heredity Flashcards
heredity
how life (species and gene pool) continues as characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next
sexual reproduction
- the process in which new organisms are created by combining the genetic information from two individuals of different sex
- each parent provides haf the genetic material of the offspring in the form of a gamete (sperm for males and egg/ova for females) (haploid).
- the female and male gametes fuse to create a full set of chromosomes, thus allowing the offspring to inherent characteristics from both parents
reproduction
production of offspring
asexual reproduction
The process requires one parent organism to produce genetically identical offspring without exchanging genetic information with another organism.
difference between sexual and asexual
no. of parents:
–> (S) 2
–> (A) 1
genetics of the offspring :
–> (S) High variation (similar but not identical to parents)
–> (A) Low variation (identical cloned daughter cells to parent)
type of cell division:
–> (S) gamete production (meiosis), (eukaryotes)
–> (A) binary fission: (prokaryotes)
and cell replication (mitosis): (eukaryotes)
fertilisation:
–> (S) sperm fertilises the egg (fusion of gametes)
- internal/external
–> (A) no fusion of gametes
rate of offspring production:
–> (S) Slower/longer
–> (A) Quicker/shorter
advantages of sexual reproduction
> High gene diversity → allows organisms to adapt and survive environmental changes
> Not as susceptible to disease
> Successful in unstable condition
> ‘Selective advantage’ - able to outcompete other individuals and survive
advantages of asexual reproduction
> Energy efficient
> Only requires 1 parent
> No need to find a mate
> Shorter reproduction cycle
> Populate and repopulate species quickly
> Successful in stable conditions
> Every member can reproduce
> (for plants) - no need for pollen and vectors
disadvantages of sexual reproduction
> Longer reproduction cycle
> Time and energy consuming to find and court mate, produce gametes and mate
> Requires two parents
> Longer time to populate and repopulate
> Only females can reproduce
disadvantages of asexual reproduction
> Low genetic diversity
> Offspring may not survive environmental change due to low genetic variation
> Susceptible to disease
Inhibits the process of adaptation
reproductive success
determined by an organism’s ability to produce fertile offspring that survive to reproductive maturity to produce their own offspring
biological fitness
a measure of an individual’s reproductive success. it measures how well an organism can pass on its genes to the next generation. organisms with higher fitness are more likely to produce more offspring that can also survive and reproduce, thereby passing on their traits
types of asexual reproduction
binary fission, budding, fragmentation, spores, vegetative propagation
parthenogenesis
binary fission
binary fission results in the formation of two genetically identical organisms from a single-parent organism e.g. bacteria, protists
budding
budding is the uneven cell division (unicellular) or outgrowth in which a new organism grows on the parent before breaking away.
spore formation
a unicellular reproductive structure called sporangium that can make and disperse spores into the environment that germinate into new individuals
if an organism is well-adapted to its environment, what is advantageous?
to conserve its genome by performing asexual reproduction. Allows for rapid population growth
if an organism is exposed to changing environments, what is advantageous?
mutations that occur during DNA replication, translating to variation in species. facilitates adaptations.
what selection pressures make asexual reproduction more effective than sexual reproduction?
–> shortage of food and/or other resources because asexual uses less energy to produce offspring
–> small mating population and/or time restraints to find partner because only 1 organism needed for asexual reproduction
do fungi reproduce sexually or asexually and how?
asexual –> budding, spores
sexual –> fusion of hyphae in two fungi
budding in yeast (unicellular fungi)
- FORMATION OF BUD → A bud forms @ a specific site of the cell membrane on the parent protozoan.
- GROWTH OF BUD → The bud enlarges as it accumulates organelles and cytoplasm from the parent cell. However, these materials are unequally distributed between the two cells, causing the bud to be smaller. The cell wall enlarges to facilitate its growth.
- MITOSIS → Genetic material (DNA) is replicated and migrates to the daughter cell.
- CYTOKINESIS → Once the bud has grown sufficiently and has its nucleus and organelle, it may pinch off from the parent cell via cytokinesis. The bud can either remain attached to form a chain-like structure or detach from the parent.
spores in rhizopus (asexual)
- PRODUCTION OF SPORES → A structure called sporangia produces a large number of asexual spores. These spores, produced by mitosis, are haploid and contain a single set of chromosomes.
- SPORE RELEASE → Once the spores are fully formed, the sporangium breaks open and releases the spores into the environment.
- DISPERSAL → The spores are light and can be easily dispersed by air, water etc, allowing them to disseminate over long distances.
- GERMINATION → When a spore lands in a suitable environment (favourable moisture, temperature and nutrients) it germinates. It develops its hyphae then grows into a new mycelium.
when does sexual reproduction happen in fungi? what happens?
Unfavourable conditions will induce sexual reproduction in fungi.
- FUSION OF HYPHAE → The hyphae of two mating types fuse before forming a sexual reproductive fruiting body with a diploid structure. Its spores will have a combination of genetic material, resulting in the species having genetic variation.