1. KEY CONCEPT Many organisms reproduce by cell division.

2. Objectives
Compare and contrast binary fission and mitosis.
Describe how some eukaryotes reproduce through mitosis.

3. Vocabulary
Asexual Reproduction
Process by which offspring are produced from a single parent; does not involve the joining of gametes.
Binary Fission
Asexual reproduction in which a cell divides into two equal parts.

4. Binary fission is similar in function to mitosis.
Asexual reproduction is the creation of offspring from a single parent.
Binary fission produces two daughter cells genetically identical to the parent cell.
Binary fission occurs in prokaryotes.
parent cell
DNA
duplicates
cell begins
to divide
daughter
cells

5. Environment determines what form of reproduction is most advantageous.
Asexual reproduction is an advantage in consistently favorable conditions.
Sexual reproduction is an advantage in changing conditions.

6. Some eukaryotes reproduce through mitosis.
Budding forms a new organism from a small projection growing on the surface of the parent.
bud
Hydra
Yeast

7. Fragmentation is the splitting of the parent into pieces that each grow into a new organism.
Vegetative reproduction forms a new plant from the modification of a stem or underground structure on the parent plant.

8. Question/Answer
How is asexual reproduction an advantage in some conditions?
Asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring that are well suited to their environment.
How might the asexual reproduction of genetically identical plants be useful to humans? How could it prove harmful to our food supply?
Since asexually reproduced plants are clones, we can theoretically grow a particular plant in abundance under certain conditions. However, if conditions change, a significant portion of our food supply could be adversely affected.