Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction

What’s so great about asexual reproduction?

Are you kidding me?

Nothing!!

What is asexual reproduction?• Reproduction through

mitosis

Mitosis creates identical daughter cells

So offspring will be genetically identical to parents.

For prokaryotic cells like bacteria—the only way they reproduce. But other organisms can reproduce asexually as well.

Advantages of asexual reproduction

1. Don’t have to look for a mate2. Can reproduce really fast3. Allows an organism to have lots of

offspring if the environment is stable

What’s so great about sexual reproduction?

Are you kidding me?

Everything!!

Yeah, yeah but besides that…

What is sexual reproduction?

• Reproduction involving the production of gametes—eggs and sperm—so that genetic material of two parent organisms are combined

The reason sex is so great is…

• It creates genetic diversity!

Variation among organisms allows a species to better adapt to changing environments

Hey, I can’t really reach these leaves!

Yum, I can!

How does meiosis lead to genetic variation?

1. Independent Assortment

AaBb

AB Ab aB ab

2. Crossing over

Homologous chromosomes exchange DNA