Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

Asexual Produces genetically identical cells One parent Happens through mitosis (no fusion of gametes) Reproduction method of bacteria, some plants/animals No genetic variation since they are genetically identical  Sexual Produces genetically different cells Two parents Requires fusion of gametes in meiosis Mostly animals but can happen in flowering plants too Results in genetic variation

The advantages and disadvantages of both The advantages of asexual reproduction include that there only needs to be one parent, which means that asexual reproduction is quick, therefore it requires little energy. As well as this, identical offspring can often be favourable in some conditions. Although, this can also be a disadvantage because if an environmental factor (such as disease or cold weather) affects one organism, they will all be equally as affected. The advantages of sexual reproduction mean that there is variation in the offspring, which increases the chance of a species surviving a change in the environment. Natural selection is able to occur to produce animals or plants with desirable characteristics, therefore only the fittest will live on. On the other hand, the disadvantage of sexual reproduction is that that it takes a lot of time and energy.

Depending on some organisms circumstances they can produce sexually or asexually. Many species of fungi and plants can reproduce both ways. This can give them a survival advantage as they are able reproduce sexually if the conditions are not favourable for asexual reproduction. For example, in flowering plants, the pollen and egg gametes are used in sexual reproduction. The pollen, which is transferred to the plant by insects or wind/water, will need to reach the egg in the ovary to start a process known as pollination. Once the two have fused together, seeds are formed and can be spread throughout the nearby area for more future plants to grow. However, tiny plants can grow on the end of their stems called runners (such as strawberry plants) which reproduce asexually instead.