Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is the process by which some organisms reproduce all by themselves. The latin prefix "a" means "without", and "sex" means to cross. Together, asexual means, "without crossing". The cells in the human body do this hundreds of times every day. It is most prevalent among bacteria, but appears in some plants and a few animals as well. There are many forms of asexual reproduction, including propagation, binary fission, and budding.

Asexual Reproductionby Maggie Hall, Period 1, Hester

What is it?

This is the most well known type of asexual reproduction. When a cell or bacterium reproduces, the chromosomes (containing the genetic material) are copied. They then go to opposite ends of the cell. The cell then splits in two, leaving the two new cells with exactly identical genetic material. These two new cells are called "daughter cells". Each daughter is exactly identical to the other and to the original cell, also known as the "parent cell".

Propagation is how several plants, such as linden trees, reproduce. This means that humans cut off a part of the parent tree and plant it, causing the new part to take root and grow into an entirely new tree. Another example of trees that do this are navel trees.

Propagation

Binary Fission

Budding is a form of asexual reproduction done by many plants. A plant creates a bud, often times hundreds, and when the bud falls off, it plants itself. Similar to propagation, the bud then begins to grow into a new plant. This method of asexual reproduction works extremely quickly. Some examples of budding plants are Chlorophytum and Byrophyllum.

Budding

Benefits of asexual production are that it is extremely fast working and rarely ever faulty. For example, Byrophyllum reproduces so quickly that it is known as an annoying weed. Drawbacks are that there is no genetic variation, thus, no evolution. For example, humans have adapted to be almost immune to some diseases bcause of evolution, whereas bacteria haven't changed in thousands of years.Offspring born from one parent are exactly like their parent. Offspring born from two parents are completely unique from any other organism in this world. It's likely the only reason bacteria haven't taken over the world. Every E. coli is the same, but every human is unique.

Pros and Cons

Fragmentation is a type of asexual repreduction in which the organism splits into pieces (or, fragments), and each piece grows into a new organism. Some examples of this type of reproduction are certain types of worms and most starfish.

Fragmentation

Propagation in a cactus

Binary fission

Budding in yeast

Fragmentation