Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Overview

Marine Biology

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction without mating; offspring are clones.

Fission

Splitting one organism into two equal parts.

Budding

Small clones develop and detach from parent.

Vegetative reproduction

New plants sprout from underground stems.

Sexual reproduction

Involves gametes from two individuals uniting.

Ovaries

Organs that produce female gametes (eggs).

Testes

Organs that produce male gametes (sperm).

Broadcast spawning

Releasing gametes into water for fertilization.

Internal fertilization

Sperm inserted directly into female reproductive tract.

Hermaphrodites

Organisms with both male and female reproductive organs.

Evolution

Gradual genetic change in a population over time.

Natural Selection

Survival of best-adapted individuals producing offspring.

Gene pool

Total genetic diversity within a population.

Taxonomy

Science of classifying and naming species.

Levels of classification

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Species

Group of individuals capable of interbreeding.

Reproductively separate

Populations unable to interbreed successfully.

Phylogenetics

Study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Gametes

Reproductive cells: eggs and sperm.

Fertilization

Union of gametes to form a new organism.

Rhizome

Underground stem from which new plants sprout.