Continuity of Life: Reproduction

What Keeps Life Going?

If organisms didn’t reproduce, life would vanish. Reproduction ensures continuity. It involves passing Genetic Material (Genes) from parents to offspring.

Types of Reproduction

There are two main methods:

1. Asexual Reproduction:

   • Single Parent.
   • Offspring are exact copies (Clones).
   • Examples:
     • Vegetative Propagation: Growing plants from stems (Rose, Sugarcane), eyes (Potato), or rhizomes (Ginger).
     • Binary Fission: Bacteria/Amoeba splitting in two.
     • Budding: Hydra growing tiny buds.
     • Regeneration: Planaria regrowing from a cut piece.

2. Sexual Reproduction:

   • Two Parents (Male and Female).
   • Involves specialized cells called Gametes (Sperm and Egg).
   • Offspring inherit a mix of traits from both parents (Variation).
   • Process: $\text{Male Gamete} + \text{Female Gamete} \xrightarrow{\text{Fertilisation}} \text{Zygote} \rightarrow \text{Embryo} \rightarrow \text{Baby}$

Reproduction in Plants vs. Animals

Why Variation Matters

Sexual reproduction creates small differences (variations). Over millions of years, these small changes allow species to adapt to new environments (e.g., Camels developing humps).