Modes Of Reproduction: Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction is defined as the process through which an organism produces or give birth to a new offspring or individual of its own kind. Reproduction is a biological process. To understand this process, it is necessary for students to understand the reproductive organs to understand the process of reproduction.

There are two types of reproduction.

1. Asexual reproduction. 

Production of the offspring without the fusion of male and female gametes is known as asexual reproduction.

1. Sexual reproduction.

Production of the offspring through embryos that have developed by the fusion of male and female gametes is called sexual reproduction.

In this article, we will going to learn about Asexual reproduction and types of asexual reproduction.

Introduction

Production of the offspring without the fusion of male and female gametes is known as asexual reproduction.

The newly produced individuals are genetically and physically identical, meaning they are clones of their parents. Asexual reproduction is observed in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. This process does not involve any kind of gamete fusion and there will be no change in the number of chromosomes. It inherits the genes which are same as the father, except in some cases where there is a chance of a rare mutation occurring.

Characteristics of Asexual Reproduction

There are following important characteristics of asexual reproduction which are;

1. In this mode of reproduction only a single parent is involved for the production of new offspring.
2. No gamete formation or fertilization takes place.
3. In asexual mode of reproduction offspring is same genetically.

Types of Asexual Reproduction

There are following types of reproduction:

• Binary Fission
• Budding
• Fragmentation
• Vegetative Propagation
• Sporogenesis

Binary Fission

Fission means to divide. In the binary fission, the parent cell is divided into two cells. This cell division patterns vary in different organisms, that is, some are directional while others are non-directional. Amoeba and euglena are the asexual reproduction examples which exhibit binary fission.

Binary fission is one of the simplest methods of asexual reproduction. The parent cell divides into two daughter cells, each daughter cell carries a nucleus of its own which is genetically identical to the parent cell. The cytoplasm also divides which leads to two same-sized daughter cells. The process repeats itself and the daughter cells grow and divide even more.

Fragmentation

Fragmentation is one of the important types of asexual reproduction which are exhibited by organisms like spirogyra, planaria etc. The parent body is divided into a number of fragments and each fragment grows into a new organism.

Budding

Budding is the process of producing an individual through the buds which develop on the parent body. Hydra is an example of asexual reproduction that reproduces by budding. The bud gets nutrition and shelter from the parent organism and detaches when it is grown fully.

Vegetable Propagation

Asexual reproduction in plants occurs through their vegetative parts like roots, leaves, stem, and buds. This is often known as vegetative propagation. Potato tubers, onion bulbs, runners/stolon etc., are the examples of asexual reproduction which are reproduce through vegetative propagation.

Spore Formation

Spore formation is another type of asexual reproduction. During the unfavourable conditions, organisms develop the sac-like structures called sporangium which contain spores. When the conditions become favourable, the sporangium bursts, and opens and spores are released which germinate to give rise to the new organisms. For example the formation of fungi such as Rhizopus, Mucor, etc.,.

Advantages of Asexual Reproduction

There are many advantages of asexual reproduction in which some are as follows;

1. Only a single parent is necessary.
2. It needs less energy to reproduce offspring.
3. Every offspring is genetically the same as the parent.
4. Vegetative propagation is used by seedless plants for their reproduction.

Disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction

There are many disadvantages of asexual reproduction in which some are as follows;

1. The organism which are reproduces by asexual reproduction are unable to adopt the changing environment.
2. The organism which are reproduces by asexual reproduction would eliminate when a single change in environment occurs.
3. Asexual reproduction doesn’t lead to genetic variation in population.

Asexual Reproduction Examples

1. Amoeba and euglena are the examples asexual reproduction which exhibit binary fission.
2. spirogyra, planaria are the examples asexual reproduction which exhibit fragmentation.
3. Potato tubers, onion bulbs, runners/stolon etc., are the examples of asexual reproduction which are reproduce through vegetative propagation.