Pre-Lab Biodiversity

Asexual Reproduction:

a biological process where a single parent organism produces offspring that are genetically identical to itself, without the involvement of gametes (sex cells) or fertilization

Sexual Reproduction:

the creation of a new, genetically unique organism by combining the genetic material from two parents.

Cloning: Asexual Strategy

the natural or artificial creation of a genetically identical copy of an organism

Binary Fission: Asexual Strategy

a type of asexual reproduction where a single parent cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells.

Budding: Asexual Strategy

a form of asexual reproduction where an organism develops an outgrowth, or "bud," from its parent body, which then grows into a new, genetically identical individual that eventually separates from the parent.

Parthenogenesis: Asexual Strategy

an egg develops into a new individual without fertilization by sperm.

Fragmentation: Asexual Strategy

a type of asexual reproduction where an organism breaks into two or more fragments, and each fragment regenerates into a new, independent individual that is genetically identical to the parent.

Spore Formation: Asexual Strategy

a type of asexual reproduction where a parent organism produces tiny, dormant reproductive cells called spores that develop into new individuals without fertilization.

External Fertilization: Sexual Strategy

a mode of sexual reproduction in which the sperm and egg unite outside of the parent organisms' bodies, typically in a water environment.

Internal Fertilization: Sexual Strategy

a process in sexual reproduction where a male's sperm fuses with a female's egg inside the female's body.

Spore Formation: Sexual Strategy

Meiosis, which involves the fusion of specialized cells from two parent organisms to produce haploid (n) spores. 

Hermaphroditism: Sexual Strategy

a biological phenomenon in sexual reproduction where an organism possesses both male and female reproductive organs and can produce both male and female gametes (sperm and eggs).

Self-Incompatibility: Sexual Strategy

a mechanism in sexual reproduction, primarily in hermaphroditic plants, that prevents self-fertilization by promoting outcrossing and avoiding inbreeding depression.

Isogamy: Sexual Strategy

a form of sexual reproduction where both fusing gametes (se x cells) are morphologically similar in size and appearance

Anisogamy: Sexual Strategy

a form of sexual reproduction where the male and female gametes (sex cells) produced by individuals of a species are different in size and/or form.

Oogamy: Sexual Strategy

a form of sexual reproduction where two distinct types of gametes, a large, non-motile female gamete (the egg) and a smaller, motile male gamete (the sperm), fuse during fertilization