Types of Reproduction in Biology

Study Notes

Asexual Reproduction: production of offspring without the fusion of gametes (sex cells), resulting in genetically identical offspring.
- Examples: binary fission, budding, fragmentation, vegetative propagation.
Sexual Reproduction: production of offspring through the fusion of gametes, resulting in genetically diverse offspring.
- Examples: syngamy, conjugation, heterogamy.

Viviparity: giving birth to live young, as seen in mammals.
Ovoviviparity: producing eggs that hatch inside the mother's body, as seen in some snakes and fish.
Oviparity: laying eggs, as seen in birds and most reptiles.

R-Selection: producing many offspring with little parental investment, often seen in species with high mortality rates.
K-Selection: producing few offspring with high parental investment, often seen in species with low mortality rates.

Monogamy: a single mating partner per breeding season.
Polygamy: multiple mating partners per breeding season.
- Polygyny: one male mates with multiple females.
- Polyandry: one female mates with multiple males.

Male Reproductive System: produces and delivers sperm.
- Components: testes, epididymis, vas deferens, urethra, penis.
Female Reproductive System: produces and nurtures eggs.
- Components: ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina.

Meiosis: the process of gamete formation, resulting in four haploid cells.
Fertilization: the fusion of a sperm and an egg, resulting in a zygote.
Embryogenesis: the development of a fertilized egg into a multicellular organism.

Asexual reproduction produces offspring without gamete fusion, resulting in genetically identical offspring.
Examples of asexual reproduction include binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and vegetative propagation.
Sexual reproduction produces offspring through gamete fusion, resulting in genetically diverse offspring.
Examples of sexual reproduction include syngamy, conjugation, and heterogamy.

Viviparity is a mode of reproduction in which offspring develop inside the mother's body and are born alive.
Examples of viviparity include mammals.
Ovoviviparity is a mode of reproduction in which eggs hatch inside the mother's body, and offspring are nourished by egg yolks.
Examples of ovoviviparity include some snakes and fish.
Oviparity is a mode of reproduction in which eggs are laid outside the mother's body.
Examples of oviparity include birds and most reptiles.

R-Selection is a reproductive strategy in which many offspring are produced with little parental investment.
This strategy is often seen in species with high mortality rates.
K-Selection is a reproductive strategy in which few offspring are produced with high parental investment.
This strategy is often seen in species with low mortality rates.

Monogamy is a reproductive cycle in which a single mating partner is involved per breeding season.
Polygamy is a reproductive cycle in which multiple mating partners are involved per breeding season.
Polygyny is a type of polygamy in which one male mates with multiple females.
Polyandry is a type of polygamy in which one female mates with multiple males.

The male reproductive system produces and delivers sperm.
Components of the male reproductive system include testes, epididymis, vas deferens, urethra, and penis.
The female reproductive system produces and nurtures eggs.
Components of the female reproductive system include ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina.

Meiosis is the process of gamete formation, resulting in four haploid cells.
Fertilization is the fusion of a sperm and an egg, resulting in a zygote.
Embryogenesis is the development of a fertilized egg into a multicellular organism.