REPRODUCTION

Reproduction is defined as a biological process in which an organism gives rise to young ones (offspring) similar to itself.

The offspring grow, mature and in turn produce new offspring. Thus, there is a cycle of birth, growth and death.

Reproduction enables the continuity of the species, generation after generation. You will study later in Chapter (Principles of Inheritance and Variation) how genetic variation is created and inherited during reproduction.

There is a large diversity in the biological world and each organism has evolved its own mechanism to multiply and produce offspring.

Habitat and internal physiology of organism and several other factors are collectively responsible for how it reproduces.

There are two types of reproduction:

(1) Asexual reproduction

(i) Offspring is produced by a single parent with or without the involvement of gamete formation.

(ii) Gametic fusion is absent.

(2) Sexual reproduction

(i) Offspring is produced by two parents (opposite sex) with the involvement of gamete formation.

(ii) Gametic fusion is present (fertilization/syngamy).