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asexual+rep

Uploaded by

geetasatyapriya
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Do animals always have two parents?

No, not all animals have two parents. Sometimes animals can be made from just one
parent. This Komodo dragon, for example, only has a mother and reproduces
by parthenogenesis. Asexual reproduction is the process of creating offspring from just one
parent.

Asexual Reproduction

Are there male and female bacteria? How could you tell? Remember, bacteria have just
one chromosome; they do not have an X or Y chromosome. So they probably have a very
simplified form of reproduction. Asexual reproduction, the simplest and most primitive
method of reproduction, involves a single parent and produces a clone, an organism that
is genetically identical to the parent. Haploid gametes are not involved in asexual
reproduction. A parent passes all of its genetic material to the next generation. All
prokaryotic and some eukaryotic organisms reproduce asexually.
Asexual reproduction can be very rapid. This is an advantage for many organisms. It allows
these organisms to crowd out other organisms that reproduce more slowly. Bacteria, for
example, may divide several times per hour. Under ideal conditions, 100 bacteria can divide
to produce millions of bacterial cells in just a few hours. However, most bacteria do not live
under ideal conditions. If they did, the entire surface of the planet would soon be covered
with them. Instead, their reproduction is kept in check by limited resources, predators, and
their own wastes. This is true of most other organisms as well.
There are a number of types of asexual reproduction, including
fission, fragmentation, budding, vegetative reproduction, spore formation and
agamogenesis. Spore formation occurs in plants and some algae and fungi and will be
discussed in Plant Biology additional concepts.
[Figure 2]
Binary fission in various single-celled organisms (left). Cell division is a relatively simple
process in many single-celled organisms. Eventually, the parent cell will pinch apart to form two
identical daughter cells. In multiple fission (right), a multinucleated cell can divide to form more
than one daughter cell. Multiple fission is more often observed among protists.
Fission
In fission (or binary fission), a parent separates into two or more individuals of about equal
size. This type of reproduction is common among single-celled organisms, including
bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes, such as protists and some fungi. The single
cell divides into two daughter cells.
Fragmentation
In fragmentation, a body breaks into several fragments, which later develop into
complete organisms. For example, a new starfish can develop from a single ray or arm. In
addition to starfish, this type of reproduction is common among some worms, fungi, and
plants. Many of these organisms are also capable of sexual reproduction. Most lichens,
which form from a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and photosynthetic algae or
bacteria, reproduce through fragmentation. This ensures that new individuals contain both
symbionts.
Budding
In budding, organisms reproduce by having new individuals split off from existing ones,
which results in genetically identical parent and daughter organisms. The bud may stay
attached or break free from the parent. Eukaryotic organisms, such as the single-cell yeast
and multicellular Hydra, undergo budding.


[Figure 3]


[Figure 4]
Starfish reproduce by fragmentation, and yeasts reproduce by budding. Both are types of asexual
reproduction.
Vegetative Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a type of asexual reproduction found in plants. This type
of reproduction occurs when new individuals are formed without the production of seeds or
spores. The formation of new plants out of rhizomes or stolons is an example of vegetative
reproductive, such as in the strawberry plant. Other plants use this type of reproduction to
reproduce through bulbs, tubers, or shoots and suckers that form along lateral roots. See
the Plant Biology concepts for additional information.

[Figure 5]
These strawberry plants reproduce by vegetative reproduction. New strawberries grow out of
stolons, a specialized type of horizontal above-ground shoot.
Agamogenesis
Agamogenesis is any form of reproduction that does not involve a male gamete. These
include parthenogenesis and apomixis. Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual
reproduction where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization.
Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in aphids, rotifers, nematodes, and some
other invertebrates, as well as in many plants and certain lizards, such as the Komodo
dragon. Apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization, in plants.
Example
Type Description Organisms

Occurs when a parent cell splits into two identical Bacteria, protists,
Fission
daughter cells of the same size. unicellular fungi

Starfish, some
Fragmentatio Occurs when a parent organism breaks into fragments, or
worms, fungi,
n pieces, and each fragment develops into a new organism.
plants, lichens

Budding Occurs when a parent cell forms a bubble-like bud. The Yeast, Hydra
bud stays attached to the parent cell while it grows and
Example
Type Description Organisms

develops. When the bud is fully developed, it breaks away


from the parent cell and forms a new organism.

Vegetative Occurs when new individuals are formed without the


Plants
Reproduction production of seeds or spores.

Agamogenesi Any form of reproduction that does not involve a male Many plants and
s gamete. some animal

Asexual Reproduction Summary

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