Asexual Reproduction
The cell cycle is essential for the growth and repair of
cells in our body. Mitosis is the name we give the
process of reproduction of single cells. Living
organisms reproduce either sexually or asexually.
In asexual reproduction, a single organism
generates an offspring with identical characteristics.
The offspring is identical to the parent since there is
only one parent from which it can gain its genetic
information. Most single-celled organisms reproduce
asexually. Some organisms are capable of
reproducing asexually and sexually. The conditions
determining which type of reproduction is to take
place are often environmental.
All forms of life from bacteria to humans make use of
cell division by mitosis.
Asexual reproduction always produces an offspring
that is identical to the parent, since there is only one
parent.
Jigsaw Activity!
1. You will be assigned “home” groups of 6 or 7.
2. Each person in your group chooses a topic from
these: binary fission, budding, sporulation,
vegetative propagation, regeneration (youngest
chooses first, make sure all topics are covered).
3. You will then leave your "home" groups and meet
in "expert" groups (the other students that will
have the same topic as you).
4. Expert groups read the material, discuss the
material, research the material for further
understanding, and brainstorm ways in which to
present their understandings to the other
members of their “home” group (each person in
the group should be taking the same notes).
5. After all information is collected, a mini-poster is
to be made or printed to put on the wall in the
classroom that contains:
a. The topic name,
b. A diagram or picture of the topic,
c. An explanation of the topic,
d. Examples of the topic,
e. And at least 5 facts about the topic.
6. Everyone will be given 5 identical pages called
“Concept Overview” to fill out.
7. The experts return to their “home” groups to teach
their portion of the materials and to learn from the
other members of their “home” group (about 3-5
minutes each). While they do this, everyone in the
home group should fill out their Concept Overview
of that topic.
Asexual reproduction has some advantages.
 It allows stationary organisms to easily reproduce.
 It allows reproduction with minimum expenditure
of energy.
 It prevents genetic change that might be a
disadvantage to the offspring.
Asexual reproduction also offers some disadvantages.
 Spore production is wasteful.
 It can more easily lead to overcrowding and
competition.
 There is no genetic variation to allow for
adaptation and evolution.