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.