intro-repro-2024.pdf

HUMAN REPRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Question: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF REPRODUCTION?  As in all animals, the adaptations for reproduction in humans are complex. They involve specialized and different anatomies in the two sexes, a hormone regulation system, and specialized behaviors...

HUMAN REPRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Question: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF REPRODUCTION?  As in all animals, the adaptations for reproduction in humans are complex. They involve specialized and different anatomies in the two sexes, a hormone regulation system, and specialized behaviors regulated by the brain and endocrine system.  Therefore… Reproduction may be defined as the biological process by which organisms give rise to their own kind. This process of reproducing one’s own kind ensures the continuance of the variety of organisms that inhabit the earth. Reproduction is a characteristic feature of every living being and has its own role to play in the body just like the other biological processes such as respiration, circulation, nutrition and others. However… it's not essential to keeping an individual alive.  REPRODUCTION IN HUMANS The period from infancy to reproductive maturity in humans includes childhood and adolescence.  WHAT ARE THE CHANGES AT PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE PHYSICAL CHANGES: 1. Increase in height 2. Changes in body shape 3. Changes in the voice 4. Development of sex organs 5. Appearance of secondary sexual characters PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES Increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands Increase in appetite Increase in the level of hormones in blood Menstruation  PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES Mental, emotional and intellectual maturity develops gradually  NOTE: Adolescents may be biologically capable of reproduction but generally they are not ready to shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood. Adolescent girls are not physiologically mature for child bearing and most of the time Adolescent parents are not likely to have good opportunities of education and livelihood and may not be able to provide for their child. Reminder REMEMBER: Striving for independence is a very important part of adolescence. Young people need to remember that they should be able to take responsibility for their independent decisions  Think about this… Is “sex” same as reproduction?  SEX VS SEXUALITY The term sex refers to categories (male, female) to which people are typically assigned at birth based on physical characteristics (e.g. genitals). – The term is often used to mean ‘sexual activity’ or ‘sexual intercourse’. Sexuality is an important and central part of every human being. A person’s sexuality includes everything from their biological sex, gender identity and sexual orientation to pregnancy and reproduction.  Given the ubiquity of sex, it is easy to forget that it is not necessary for reproduction Indeed, there are some organisms that reproduce perfectly well without bothering with sex at all. However, the vast majority of eukaryotic species do have sex Considerations: Anthropological facts, philosophical reflections and ethical norms and religious dictates must also be taken into consideration when talking about sex and its role in reproduction.  Evolution and Reproduction: survival Psychologist Geoffrey Miller stated: “Natural selection is about living long enough to reproduce; sexual selection is about convincing others to mate with you.” Sexual Selection and human behavior  These are all preferences. It is always up to us to choose what or who is the fittest by considering a lot of things. Remember “life” is full of choices. And this is one important choice that we have to make.  WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT SEXUAL REPRODUCTION? Sexual reproduction meant that an organism could combine half of its genes with half of another’s genes, which creates new combinations for each generation. Though slower, sexual reproduction results in offspring that can do more than its parents.  Shuffling and recombining genes creates complexity, but also more ways to survive a changing world. Nature is not static. If you can mix genes, there’s a better chance your offspring will survive. Sexual reproduction started becoming successful because organisms began to design more ways to find food, manage pathogens, and attract the best mate. Genetic diversity meant that a species could change over successive generations. To summarize: Sexual reproduction creates complexity and diversity “Reproduction is important for the survival of all living things. Without a mechanism for reproduction, life would come to an end.”