Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction is the process by which an organism creates more of its own kind. It occurs through either asexual or sexual means.

Asexual reproduction involves a single organism contributing 100% of the genetic code to its offspring, resulting in clones of the parent.
Commonly seen in unicellular organisms because it requires less energy.
During mitosis, a cell replicates its genetic material and divides into two identical daughter cells through cytokinesis.
Bacteria, yeast, and archaebacteria commonly reproduce asexually. Some plants and animals also use this method under certain conditions.
Some bacteria share DNA through plasmids, allowing for limited genetic exchange, not as extensive as sexual reproduction.
Benefits include rapid population rebuilding from a single organism and lower resource and time requirements.
Sponges can reproduce by budding, where a part of the organism pinches off and grows into a new individual. Some plants, like citrus trees, can produce fruit with seeds without fertilization.
A key disadvantage is the lack of genetic diversity, making the entire population vulnerable to diseases or environmental changes. The Irish potato famine serves as an example where a blight wiped out genetically similar potatoes.
Types of asexual reproduction include budding (sea sponges), binary fission (bacteria), sporogenesis (molds, bacteria, fungi), fragmentation, and vegetative propagation (strawberries using runners).

Sexual reproduction involves two individuals contributing genetic information to create offspring, resulting in a hybrid with traits from both parents.
Commonly used by multicellular organisms with complex organ systems.
It allows for genetic diversity, enabling the species to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases. Mutations can be discarded before they reach the offspring.
Sexual reproduction involves sex or gender, with male and female individuals or hermaphrodites (organisms with both genders).
It involves the fusion of two sex cells from different individuals to form a zygote, which develops into a new individual.
Fertilization, the fusion of genetic information, can occur internally (mammals) or externally (frogs, fish, flowering plants).

Asexual reproduction usually occurs in simpler organisms, where any somatic cell can reproduce.
Mitosis involves the splitting of a somatic cell into two identical cells, forming new organisms or spores.
Meiosis involves the splitting of a cell with all genetic information into two cells with half the genetic information (haploid cells or gametes).
Somatic cells double their genetic material before mitosis, while sex cells undergo two divisions during meiosis to produce haploid gametes.
Gametes (sex cells) are typically eggs (female) and sperm (male).
Plants use pollen, carried by wind or pollinators, to transfer male gametes. Mammals have motile sperm for internal fertilization, while aquatic animals may have external fertilization.

Gametogenesis is the process of making sex cells, including oogenesis (making eggs) and spermatogenesis (making sperm).
Both processes start with a diploid parent cell undergoing mitosis and meiosis to produce up to four haploid daughter cells
In females, eggs are made while the fetus is still developing
In males, spermatogenesis takes place in the reproductive system throughout their reproductive lifespan.

Begins in the pre-natal stage, where primary oocytes stop in meiosis I
The antral stage sees primary oocytes surrounded by a follicle and antrum, with one daughter cell retaining most cytoplasm
Puberty triggers the antral stage through luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Before ovulation, LH releases the follicle from the ovary where it goes through the fallopian tube and proceeds to metaphase of meiosis II, eventually halting again.
The process will only finish if fertilization happens and a true ovum is formed

This is divided into three stages: spermatocytogenesis, spermatidogenesis, and spermiogenesis.
Spermatocytogenesis is were diploid stem cells divide into haploid spermatocytes
In spermatidogenesis, the secondary spermatocytes undergo meiosis II to form haploid spermatids quickly.
Finally spermiogenesis occurs when the spermatids change physiologically to become fully functional sperm cells.

Mitosis is a cellular division process resulting in diploid cells, not always leading to more organisms.
Meiosis is specifically for reproduction, halving genetic material to be restored later.
Meiosis will never be used for asexual reproduction
In rare cases, an ovum can grow without fertilization, completing the individual.

Asexual reproduction involves a parent cell splitting via mitosis to produce 2 identical diploid daughter cells.
Sexual reproduction has undifferentiated ells going through meiosis to produce 4 haploid gametes.
Mitosis includes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis
Meiosis has two sets of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis
Mitosis can occur in any somatic cell that replicates quickly
Meiosis is only used for the purposes of gamete production
Mitosis is common is single celled reproduction
Meiosis takes place in complex organisms with complex gametes

Humans reproduce sexually, the end result is is a child with similar genetics from both the mother and the father
Plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually, strawberries send out clones while onions tubers, potatoes and ginger reproduce asexually.
Plants that sexually reproduce make seeds and pollen and can utilize insects and animals to spread the seeds and pollen to other plants
Flowers contain the sexual organs of the plant and pollinators can transfer pollen from plant to plant through the air, fertilzing the ova and thus spreading seeds for reproduction.