Summarizing Reproduction Methods

Summary

Reproduction may be asexual when one individual produces genetically identical offspring, or sexual when the genetic material from two individuals is combined to produce genetically diverse offspring. Asexual reproduction occurs through fission, budding, and fragmentation. Sexual reproduction may mean the joining of sperm and eggs within animals’ bodies or it may mean the release of sperm and eggs into the environment. An individual may be one sex, or both; it may start out as one sex and switch during its life, or it may stay male or female.

Glossary

asexual reproduction

form of reproduction that produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent

budding

form of asexual reproduction that results from the outgrowth of a part of a cell leading to a separation from the original animal into two individuals

fission

(also, binary fission) method by which multicellular organisms increase in size or asexual reproduction in which a unicellular organism splits into two separate organisms by mitosis

fragmentation

cutting or fragmenting of the original animal into parts and the growth of a separate animal from each part

hermaphroditism

state of having both male and female reproductive parts within the same individual

parthenogenesis

form of asexual reproduction where an egg develops into a complete individual without being fertilized

sexual reproduction

mixing of genetic material from two individuals to produce genetically unique offspring