Sexual Reproduction Flashcards
What does sexual reproduction involve?
It involves meiosis and requires fertilization, which is the fusion of two nuclei.
What are the two nuclei needed for sexual reproduction?
A male gamete, sperm cell and a female gamete, egg cell.
What is formed in sexual reproduction?
A fertilized egg, a zygote, with 46 chromosomes.
What will the resulting offspring be in sexual reproduction?
It will be genetically unique, different to its parent and any other offspring.
What organisms can sexual reproduction take place in?
Animals, plants and fungi (all are eukaryotic cells).
Where does sexual reproduction not take place?
Bacteria.
What does it mean by the gametes are haploid?
They have half the original number of chromosomes (23 chromosomes).
What is meant by a diploid cell?
It means a cell with two complete sets of chromosomes. A zygote is diploid, one set of chromosomes comes from the mother and the other from the father.
What are some advantages to sexual reproduction?
It produces variation in the offsprings. Organisms can become better adapted to environmental changes. Selective breeding to increase food production. Disease is less likely.
What are some disadvantages to sexual reproduction?
It is time and energy costly to find a mate. Not all the population will mate and pass on alleles.
Why will an offspring of sexual reproduction not be identical to their parents?
DNA/genetic information from two parents, so the alleles may be different.
