Asexual/Sexual Reproduction

Watch the following video from our favorite science sisters, The Amoeba Sisters! Use the information learned in this video along with your notes to complete this worksheet! Read each of the following characteristics carefully, then decide if it is a characteristic of asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, or both types of reproduction Click on the item and choose asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, or both from the drop down menu. Asexual Reproduction little to no genetic variation single parent identical offspring simple, process is quicker decreased chance of survival Sexual Reproduction requires two parents more complex, longer process greater genetic variation in offspring offspring is not identical increased chance of survival Both passes genetic information from one generation to the next Which of the following would be a possible DISADVANTAGE of asexual reproduction? low genetic variation high genetic variation less time to produce offspring needs only one parent Fill in the blank with the missing word. There are two types of reproduction in organisms. In asexual reproduction, the offspring are all genetically the same. Not only are the offspring the same, but they are identical to the parent. There is only one parent involved in asexual reproduction. An example of asexual reproduction in bacteria is binary fission , caused when the DNA duplicates and the bacterium cell enlarges until it divides into two separate cells. Ocean coral asexually reproduces by budding ; it grows a piece of coral off from its body, and the piece will drop off and start growing a new coral structure. Small worms asexually reproduce by fragmentation , when they spontaneously break into multiple pieces and each piece becomes a new worm. The second type of reproduction is sexual reproduction. These offspring are genetically different from their two parents. The egg from the mom and the sperm from the dad combine to produce an offspring. An advantage of sexual reproduction is the diversity of the offspring, since they are each genetically different. The differences allow organisms to better adapt to the changing environment. The only advantage for asexual reproduction is that it is more efficient , because an organism does not have to spend energy finding and courting a mate.