Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

Today's final Science Solutions blog assignment is to compare and contrast sexual and asexual methods of reproduction. We are currently studying human reproduction and we have studied asexual reproduction in the past, so I think I have enough information to write this blog post.

Sexual reproduction occurs when two organisms use their sexual organs to reproduce and combine their genes to make a different organisms. Almost all animals do this, including humans. You inherited genes from your parents when they reproduced.

In asexual reproduction, one organism does all the work. Because their are no other genes to combine with theirs, the daughter organism is identical to the parent one since it has the same genes. Some very basic organisms reproduce this way, but humans are not basic enough to.

In organisms that reproduce sexually, there is much more genetic variation than in those who do not, obviously. Thanks to sexual reproduction, people are not all exactly the same! However, asexual and sexual reproduction do have certain things in common. For example, genetic information forms in a similar way in both. Here's a helpful diagram that should make these similarities and differences easier to understand.

Sexual Reproduction

• Requires two organisms
• Genes combine to form a new organism
• Fertilization takes place
• Much more complex than asexual reproduction
• Creates genetic variation
• Seen in animals
• More is known about it

Both

• Require mature organisms
• New organisms are formed
• Needed to spawn life
• Practice of reproduction is one of the key elements of identifying living things

Asexual Reproduction

• Requires one organism
• Organism's genetic information is copied and reproduced
• Similar to mitosis
• Does not create variation in genes
• Seen in simple organisms like sea sponges and many plants
• Less is known about how it actually works