Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction
What’s so great about asexual reproduction? Are you kidding me? Nothing!!
What is asexual reproduction? Reproduction through mitosis Mitosis creates identical daughter cells So offspring will be genetically identical to parents. For prokaryotic cells like bacteria—the only way they reproduce. But other organisms can reproduce asexually as well.
Advantages of asexual reproduction Don’t have to look for a mate Can reproduce really fast Allows an organism to have lots of offspring if the environment is stable
What’s so great about sexual reproduction? Are you kidding me? Everything!! Yeah, yeah but besides that…
What is sexual reproduction? Reproduction involving the production of gametes—eggs and sperm—so that genetic material of two parent organisms are combined
The reason sex is so great is… It creates genetic diversity! Variation among organisms allows a species to better adapt to changing environments
Hey, I can’t really reach these leaves! Yum, I can!
How does meiosis lead to genetic variation?
1. Independent Assortment AaBb AB Ab aB ab
2. Crossing over Homologous chromosomes exchange DNA
3. Fertilization Random combination of genetic material from two genetically different parents in a unique way