Asexual Reproduction

What is Reproduction?  Reproduction is the process in which organisms produce more of their own kind.  Asexual reproduction occurs when a new organism is produced by one parent. The new organism will be identical to the parent.  Sexual Reproduction requires two parents each giving 23 chromosomes to the offspring.

Types of Asexual Reproduction  Parthenogenesis  Fission  Vegetative Propagation  Fragmentation  Budding

Parthenogenesis  A female organism produces an egg that develops into a new organism without being fertilized.  Identical copy of parent.  Examples: insects, reptiles and fishes. Example

Whiptail Lizards Parthenogenesis  A female whiptail lizard may produce eggs that develop into identical versions of itself.

Fission  A single-celled organism divides into two cells of the same size.  Each is identical to the other.  Examples: Bacteria, Paramecium, Amoeba Example

Bacteria Fission  A single-celled organism that has no nucleus or cell wall and reproduces by splitting in two.

Vegetative Propagation  New plants can be produced from sections of parent plants that are cut off.  Identical copy of parent.  Examples: spider plants, willow trees Example

Strawberries Vegetative Propagation  Strawberries reproduce new plants by the division of cells from runners or roots.

Fragmentation  An organism breaks up into fragments.  Each of these fragments develops into an identical copy of the original organism.  Examples: flatworm, planarian Example

Planarians Fragmentation  The body of the parent breaks into pieces, each of which can produce an offspring

Budding  A bud grows on the body of the parent.  Identical copy of its parent.  Sometimes the bud separates from the parent and becomes independent.  Examples: hydra, yeast, sponge Example

Hydra Budding  Cell division forms a bud that is an identical copy of its single parent that separates from the parent and becomes independent.