Bio 9 - Unit 6 (Sexual Reproduction)

Advantages of Asexual reproduction

Only one parent needed, reproduction occurs quickly, offspring mature quickly, offspring genetically identical so if conditions remain the same, offspring are likely to survive

Disadvantages of asexual reproduction

Lack of genetic variation, vulnerabilities to environmental changes, potential accumulation of harmful mutations

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Genetic diversity, allows some individuals to survive if conditions changes

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

searching for a mate takes time and exposes organisms to risks, fewer offspring produced, offspring take longer to mature and reproduce, offspring require a lot of time and energy to raise to become independent from their parents

Another name for sex cells

gametes

Male sex cells

Sperm, located in testes, small in size

Female sex cells

Eggs, located in ovaries, larger in size

Fertilized egg

Zygote that results from the fusion of a sperm and an egg’s nuclei, carries genetic information from both parents

Mammal reproduction

Development of fertilized egg to offspring occurs inside the female (e.g womb), female is the source of offspring’s nourishments

Insects

Sexually, some insects (e.g bee) don’t need fertilization, unfertilized eggs becomes males, fertilized eggs become females

Fish, Frog, and Birds

Fertilized eggs develop outside the female’s body, offspring are released when eggs hatch

Plants

Most plants have male and female reproductive parts (hermaphrodites), the sperm is the pollen, the egg is inside the plant, pollen is transferred by the and or animals