ANIMAL REPRODUCTION

Animals produce offspring through asexual reproduction while other animals produce
offspring through sexual reproduction. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages.
Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent because
the offspring are all clones of the original parent. A single individual can produce offspring
asexually and large numbers of offspring can be produced quickly; these are two advantages
that asexually reproducing organisms have over sexually reproducing organisms. In a stable or
predictable environment, asexual reproduction is an effective means of reproduction because
all the offspring will be adapted to that environment. In an unstable or unpredictable
environment, species that reproduce asexually may be at a disadvantage because all the
offspring are genetically identical and may not be adapted to different conditions.
During sexual reproduction, the genetic material of two individuals is combined to
produce genetically diverse offspring that differ from their parents. The genetic diversity of
sexually produced offspring is thought to give sexually reproducing individuals greater fitness
because more of their offspring may survive and reproduce in an unpredictable or changing
environment. Species that reproduce sexually (and have separate sexes) must maintain two
different types of individuals, males and females. Only half the population (females) can
produce the offspring, so fewer offspring will be produced when compared to asexual
reproduction. This is a disadvantage of sexual reproduction compared to asexual reproduction.

Asexual Reproduction

 Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single

organism, and inherit the genes of that parent only; it does not involve the fusion of
gametes, and almost never changes the number of chromosomes.
 In results in offspring that are genetically identical to each other and to the parent.

Types of Asexual Reproduction

 Binary fission occurs when a parent cell splits into two identical daughter cells of the
same size.
 Fragmentation occurs when a parent organism breaks into fragments, or pieces, and
each fragment develops into a new organism. Such as sponges, acoel flatworms, some
annelid worms and sea stars.

 Budding occurs when a parent cell forms a bubble-like bud. The bud stays attached to
the parent cell while it grows and develops. When the bud is fully developed, it breaks
away from the parent cell and forms a new organism.

Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction is the process in which new organisms are created, by
combining the genetic information from two individuals of different sexes. The genetic
information is carried on chromosomes within the nucleus of specialized sex cells
called gametes. In males, these gametes are called sperm and in females the gametes
are called eggs. During sexual reproduction the two gametes join together in a fusion
process known as fertilization, to create a zygote, which is the precursor to
an embryo offspring, taking half of its DNA from each of its parents.