REPRODUCTION NOTES For Exam

REPRODUCTION NOTES
Reproduction involves the production of an offspring.
Asexual reproduction is the production of new individuals from a single

parent.
Unicellular organisms, such as bacteria can reproduce asexually by the

process of binary fission.
Sexual reproduction Asexual reproduction

 Two parents: male and female  One parent
 Sex cells called gametes produced  No gametes
 Fertilization  No fertilization
Advantages: Advantages:
 Offspring are different both from  Offspring can be produced quickly
each other and to parents  Often large numbers of offspring.
 It produces variation in the offspring This is useful to parasites where any
so organisms gradually change or individual stands only a small chance
evolve. of finding a new host.
 There will always be a proportion of  Desirable characteristics can be
organisms which can survive and artificially bred into a population
adapt to unfavorable changes, so the giving them certain advantages. For
population is less likely to die out example, farmers have been able to
produce high-yield or disease-
resistant crops and livestock.
Disadvantages: Disadvantages:
 Mating partners must be available  Offspring are genetically the same as
 Fewer offspring are produced their parents.
 There is no variation, so population
is less likely to survive adverse
changes too their environment.
The reproductive structure of flowering plants is the flower which
contains both male and female organs. There are two main types of
flowers: Insect pollinated flowers and wind pollinated flowers.
Insect pollinated flowers have brightly colored, scented petals and

nectaries to attract animals such as birds or insects which are agents of
pollination. E.g: Hibiscus, Pride of Barbados.
Wind pollinated flowers structure is different from that of the insect

pollinated flowers because they need to be exposed to the wind which
blows the small, light pollen grains to the feathery stigma. There aren’t
attractive structures on it for birds and insects. E.g: Guinea grass, maize.
Pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anthers to the stigma.
There are two types of pollination: Self pollination and Cross pollination.
Self pollination: This is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the
stigma on the same flower, or a flower on the same plant.
Cross pollination: This is the transfer of pollen from the anther on one
plant to the stigma of a flower on another plant of the same species. Cross
pollination produces a greater chance of variation in offspring, since the
gametes come from different plants. This means that offspring may have
a greater chance of survival in a changing environment. To increase the
likelihood of cross pollination, many plants have flowers whose male
parts mature before the female part. The flowers are able to release pollen
before the stigmas are ready to be pollinated.
Agents of Pollination
Wind: Air currents carry pollen from one flower to another
Insects and birds: Pollen is transferred by their bodies from the anthers of
one flower to the stigma of another flower.
Fertilization
Fertilization is the fusion of the male and female gametes. In flowers,

once a pollen grain has landed on a stigma, a small tube grows out of the
pollen grain, down the style into the ovary, and into an ovule. The male
gamete passes down the pollen tube and fuses with the female gamete.
This produces a zygote which develops inside a seed. The surrounding
ovary becomes the fruit .
Seeds and Fruits
A seed consists of an embryo, together with a food store, surrounded by a

tough outer coat called the testa. The food store develops after
fertilization. When the embryo has developed fully, the tissues in the seed
lose water and become hard and dry. The seed can remain in this state for
a long time, until the conditions are right for germination when it will
develop into a new plant. In most plants, after fertilization has occurred,
the ovary becomes a fruit. The ovary wall may become hard and dry, as
in ochro or peas, or it may become fleshy and juicy, as in tomatoes,
mangoes and paw-paws.
Budding - In the budding process a dormant bud (the scion) is removed

from one plant and attached so that it will grow on another plant (the
stock) that has a well-established root system. Budding is commonly used
with citrus plants, roses, pears and apples.
Runner - Runners are natural methods of
vegetative reproduction which are not storage
organs. They are weak stems that grow horizontally above the ground.
The runners form roots and a shoot at their nodes. The root grows
downward to the soil which provide water and nutrients for the shoots to
grow. The new, young plants receive food from the parent plant via the
runner until they are able to make enough of their own to become
independent. At this point, the runner dies off. The Strawberry, water
grass and wandering Jew are the names of a few plants that reproduce
asexually by sending out runners.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction involves the joining together of sex cells called
gametes. The male gamete joins with the female gamete in a process
called fertilization. The result of fertilization is called a zygote, which
will grow into a new organism. The male produces the male gametes
called sperm and the female produces female gamete it’s called eggs or
ova.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s immune
system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of
the disease.
HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes
it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers.

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REPRODUCTION NOTES

Reproduction involves the production of an offspring.

Asexual reproduction is the production of new individuals from a single

Unicellular organisms, such as bacteria can reproduce asexually by the

Sexual reproduction Asexual reproduction

Insect pollinated flowers have brightly colored, scented petals and

Wind pollinated flowers structure is different from that of the insect

Wind: Air currents carry pollen from one flower to another

Fertilization is the fusion of the male and female gametes. In flowers,

A seed consists of an embryo, together with a food store, surrounded by a

Budding - In the budding process a dormant bud (the scion) is removed

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