Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction

Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction

Unit 4 Notes

Open Ended

What is asexual reproduction?

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction involves only one parent and reproduces genetically identical offspring.

Due to the lack of genetic variance these offspring tend to be small in size and simpler in complexity.

Asexual Reproduction

Organisms that undergo asexual reproduction tend to have many offspring that are smaller and less diverse. Asexual organisms do not focus as much on raising and nurturing their young because so many are produced per time. The gestation period is also shorter for asexual organisms because they produce smaller and simpler offspring.

Example of Asexual Reproduction

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves two organisms each contributing genes and traits to pass to the offspring.

This possible combination of genes leads to more genetic variance from offspring to offspring.

Sexual Reproduction

The gestation period for sexually reproduced organisms does take longer to complete and there are fewer organisms conceived this way per gestation period.

Since fewer offspring are produced at a time in this way, the parents spend time raising and nurturing the young for a period of time.

Example of Sexually reproducing organisms

Multiple Choice

A hydra reproduces when an outgrowth, or bud, forms and continues to develop until if falls off of the parent. This is an example of:

• Binary Fission
• Sporulation
• Budding
• Vegetative Propagation

Multiple Choice

Prokaryotes reproduce asexually through -

• Spore formation
• Vegetative propagation
• Binary fission

Multiple Choice

Passes genetic information
onto future generations

• sexual reproduction
• asexual reproduction
• both

Multiple Choice

Which reproduction requires a mate?

• asexual
• sexual
• neither

Multiple Choice

 A general name for a sex cell (egg or sperm) is a: 

• zygote
• gene
• offspring
• gamete

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes the main advantages of sexual reproduction? 

• requires lots of time/energy
• no new gene combos can arise 
• diversity
• looks identical to the parent

Multiple Choice

The genetic instructions are found in ---- within the DNA

• traits
• chromosomes
• genes
• DNA

Multiple Choice

2 dogs reproduce, 2 sex cells join together & form offspring. The resulting offspring is likely

• to express only recessive traits
• to be identical to ONE parent
• to share some traits from BOTH of its parents

Multiple Choice

This process is NOT a type of asexual reproduction ...

• fusion

• binary fission

Multiple Choice

Reproducing asexually will produce offspring ...

• genetically different from each other

• genetically identical to the parent

Multiple Choice

Penguins lay 1-2 fertilized eggs that the male and female take turns incubating on their feet. What type of reproduction does this example represent?

• Sexual reproduction

• Asexual reproduction

Multiple Choice

California blackworms, also known as mudworms, are able to break apart. Each body section that broke apart is able to become an identical new worm. What type of reproduction does this example represent?

• Sexual reproduction

• Asexual reproduction

Multiple Choice

All of the offspring of an organism have the same genetic material, which is identical to the parent organism. From this, we can conclude that this organism -

• makes its own food

• is unicellular

• live in a marine habitat

• reproduces asexually

Multiple Choice

Sexual reproduction requires _____ parents and asexual reproduction requires ___ parents

• 1,1
• 2,2
• 2,1
• 1,2 

Multiple Choice

Where does an off spring get its traits in asexual reproduction?

• From both parents
• From only one parent
• From neither parent
• There are no traits handed down