Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
This is the production
Asexual Reproduction -
of new individuals from a single parent. It
occurs in single-celled or unicellular
organisms such as bacteria and protists and
in some simple multi-cellular animals such
as hydra and the sea anemone. Some insects
like aphids also produce asexually if
conditions are suitable.
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Simple Cell Divison
Unicellular organism such as bacteria and
protists can reproduce asexually by the
process of binary fission. This means the
genetic material inside the nucleus is copied
and two new identical cell is formed.
Amoeba reproduces by binary fision. The
nucleus dicides into two followed by the
cytoplasm. The two small cells then feed and
grow.
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction – this process requires two
parents to produce off springs. It involes the joining of
sex cells called gametes. The male gamete join with
the female gamete in a process call fertilisation which
results in the formation of a zygote. The zygote will
grow into a new organism.
Comparison of Sexual and Asexual
Reproduction
Methods of Asexual Reproduction in
Plants and Animals
Budding – the parent cell develops am out growth of
cytoplasm called a bud . When the bud has grown
nearly as big a s the parent cell, the nucleus of the
parent is copied and divides into two.
A yeast cell reproducing by budding.
A cell can produce more than one
bud at a time. Hydra budding
Methods of Asexual Reproduction
in Plants and Animals
Vegetative Reproduction – refers to asexual
reproduction in flowering plants. Plants may grow
from part of the parent plant such as root, stem or even
leaves. This occurs naturally and artificially to produce
or propagate new plants. E.g. a potato
When a plant reproduces naturally by vegatative
reproduction it develops a storage organ from a stem
or root. The storage organ stores food.
Types of storage organs are corms, bulbs and rhizomes.
Methods of Asexual Reproduction
in Plants and Animals
Runners – a stem that grows horizontally away from
the parent plant. It does not involve a storage organ.
The tip of the runner forms roots which grows down
into the soil. Shoots also form which becomes new
plants. E.g. Strawberries and water grass
Methods of Asexual Reproduction
in Plants and Animals
Cuttings – this is when part of the plant such as the
stem is cut from the parent plant and placed in soil
and roots grow and a shoot formed in order to form a
new plant. E.g. Hibiscus, cassava and sugar cane.
Tissue Culture – it is a form of cloning where tisssue
are taken from a stem tip, root tip ot bud and is used to
produce whole new plants. The tissue is placed on agar
in a petri dish where it is left to develop into plantlets
and then it is transfer to plant pots.
Methods of Asexual Reproduction
in Plants and Animals
Grafting - used to join parts from two or more plants so
that they appear to grow as a single plant. In grafting, the
upper part (scion) of one plant grows on the root system
(rootstock) of another plant.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Flower – the organ of sexual reproduction in plants
Sepals – outer most part of the flower, protects the
flower while developing as a bud.
Petals – form inside the sepals and are brightly
coloured.
Stamen – male part of the flower
Carpel – female part of the flower
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
The stamen consist of the Filament and anther. Pollen
grains containing the male gametes from inside the
anthers.
The carpel consist of the stigma, style and ovary.
The stigma is a swollen sticky structure. Pollen grains
are transferred to the stigma. The style is the stalk
which connects the stigma to the ovary. Inside the
ovary are one or more ovules each containing the
female gamete.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Pollination – the process by which pollen grains are
transferred from the anther to the stigma.
Types of Pollination
Self Pollination – the transfer of pollen to a stigma on
the same flower or a flower on the same plant.
Cross – pollination – the transfer of pollen from a flower
on one plant to the stigma of a flower on another plant
of the same species.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Methods of Pollination
Pollen is carried by pollinating agents such as the
wind, birds and insects.
Comparison of
wind and Insect
Pollinated
flowers
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Fertilisation – the fusion of the male and female
gametes. Once the pollen grain lands on the stigma, a
small tube grows out of the pollen grain, down the
style into the ovary and into the ovule. The male
gamete passes down the pollen tube and fuses with the
female gamete. This produces a zygote which develops
inside a seed. The surrounding ovary becomes the
fruit.
Fertilisation
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Seeds and Fruits
A seed consist of an embryo, together with a food
store, surrounded by a tough outer coat called the
testa. The food store develops after fertilisation. When
the embryo has developed fully, the tissue in the seed
lose water and become hard and dry. The seed can
remain in this state for a long time until the conditions
are right for germination when it will develop into a
new plant.
