Asexual Reproduction

Mitosis is the basis of asexual reproduction Involves only one parent individual Results in genetically identical offspring: Clones

Advantages Safe Don’t need to find a mate Can give loads of offspring quickly

Disadvantage All offspring genetically identical If environment changes in some way then… … could cause complete of a population destruction

Strategies for Asexual Reproduction Binary Fission Sporulation Regeneration Budding Vegetative Propagation Most important on WJEC

Binary Fission Mitosis followed by splitting of the individual Only in the most simple of organisms Bacteria and Protoctists

Sporulation Mitosis followed by the production of asexual spores Spores can survive adverse conditions Good for dispersal Fungi and lower plants (mosses / ferns)

Regeneration

Rather Dramatic! Lizards shed tails Starfish can grow from only one arm!

Budding Outgrowth from parents Produces miniature of parent This bud then drops off the parent and is independent. Yeast Hydra

Vegetative Propagation Sophisticated version of budding that occurs in plants. May involve perennating organs: bulbs, corms etc where stored food means can be dormant over winter

Parthenogenesis Virgin birth! 70 species of vertebrates New Scientist Short Sharp Science Blog