Reproduction (General)

Question 1

What is sexual reproduction?

Answer 1

The process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from eachother through meiosis

A gamete is a sex cell which has a haploid nucleus meaning it only has half of the chromosones found in body cells. For humans, a sperm and ovum and for plants the pollen nucleus and ovum are gametes. When the gametes fuse together, it forms a diploid cell, known as a zygote

Question 2

What is asexual reproduction?

Answer 2

The process resulting in genetically identical offspring being produced from one parent through mitosis

Question 3

What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 3

• Increases genetic varation
• The species can adapt to a new enviroment due to variation, aiding in survival
• Disease is less likely to affect the species due to variation

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 4

• A mate is needed
• Reproduction is slow and produces relatively small numbers of offspring
• Isolated members of species may find it diffucult to reproduce

Question 5

What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 5

• Rapid reproduction
• Can exploit suitable enviroments quickly
• More time and energy efficient (no mate is needed)

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 6

• No genetic variation (apart from random mutations) as offspring are identical to parents
• Population is vunerable to change in enviroment and may only be suited to one enviroment
• Disease is likely to affect the whole population

Question 7

What must fuse during fertilisation?

Fertilisation only occurs in sexual reproduction

Answer 7

A male and female gamete

Question 7

What is the product of fertilisation called and what does it develop into

Answer 7

• It is called a zygote
• It develops into an embyro through cell division