Asexual Reproduction
Advantages and Disadvantages
Binary Fission
 Bacteria reproduce by a process called binary
fission
 Binary fission: a copy of their single chromosome
is produced and then the cell divides in half so that
one half gets one chromosome and the other half
gets the other chromosome
 Because the chromosome was duplicated, each
new cell receives a complete set of hereditary
information
Asexual Reproduction
 Binary fission is an example of asexual
reproduction in single celled organisms
 Multi-cellular organisms that
reproduction asexually is more complex
and occurs in the nucleus through
mitosis.
 Only types of asexual reproduction are:




Budding
Fragmentation
Gemmules (Internal Buds)
Regeneration
Budding
 Offspring grows out of the body of the
parent
 Hydras exhibit this type of reproduction

Jellyfish also

reproduce through

budding
Sponges
 Sponges reproduce asexually through
gemmules (internal buds)
 A parent releases a specialized mass of
cells that can develop into an offspring
Fragmentation
 In this form of asexual reproduction, the
body of the parent breaks into distinct
pieces, each of which can produce an
offspring.
 Molds, yeast and some mushrooms
reproduce in this way.
Regeneration
 If a piece of a parent is detached, it can
grow and develop into a completely new
individual.
 Flatworms use this type of asexual
reproduction.
Mitosis
 In a complex cell going through asexual
reproduction, the nucleus divides during a
process called mitosis.
 Mitosis ensures that each new cell received the
same number and kinds of chromosomes that
were present in the parent cell.
 In both binary fission/mitosis, these processes
produce two offspring with hereditary information
that is identical to the parent cell.
Mitosis
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Asexual Reproduction
 Advantage: an organism does not have
to wait for a partner to be able to
produce offspring.
 Disadvantage: the offspring are exactly
like the parents (no variation in DNA).
 Asexual reproduction does not allow
organisms to have variation from
generation to generation. (could cause
an organism to die out if changes occur
in ecosystem)