Sexual Reproduction
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Sexual reproduction is when two parents are need to produce offspring.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Sexual reproduction is when two parent organisms share DNA to produce offspring.
About Sexual Reproduction
- Sexual reproduction begins with the production of gametes which are haploid cells. These gametes are produced by meiosis.
- In sexual reproduction gametes from each parent fuse together in fertilisation to produce a diploid cell which is a new organism.
- Sexual reproduction results in offspring that are genetically different from each parent.
- Species which engage in sexual reproduction have large genetic variation within the population. This provides an advantage for the species survival as it produces more organisms which a chance of surviving a change in the environment.
- Sexual reproduction takes longer than asexual reproduction because parent organisms have to find one another and then engage in intercourse.
Advantages of Sexual Reproduction
- There are advantages of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction:
- Sexual reproduction results in a wide range of variation in their offspring which is useful in case environmental changes occur increasing the chances that some members of the species have suitable traits to survive this change.
- Due to the greater variation in offspring this allows evolution to take place more quickly.
Disadvantages of Sexual Reproduction
- There are disadvantages of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction:
- Organisms which reproduce sexually need to search for or attract a mate in order to have offspring. This takes time and energy.
- Sexual reproduction is faster than asexual reproduction so fewer offspring can be made in a given time.
References
AQA
- Sexual reproduction, page 67, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Sexual reproduction, pages 177, 179-80, 182, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Sexual reproduction, pages 196-201, 240-241, 265, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Sexual reproduction, pages 29, 35, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Sexual reproduction, pages 87, 89, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Sexual reproduction, pages, 251, 255, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Sexual reproduction, pages 12, 26, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Sexual reproduction, pages 13, 32, 33, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Sexual reproduction, pages 26, 84, 85, 88, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Sexual reproduction, pages 50-51, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel