Asexual Reproduction
1. How many parents are involved in asexual reproduction? one
2. Name 4 kinds of asexual reproduction and describe each.
Cell division - A type of asexual reproduction (used only by single celled organisms) that involves a
single cell (that is a complete organism) splitting into two cells (2 complete organisms) of
equal size
Budding - A type of asexual reproduction in which a smaller version of the parent grows attached to the
parent for a time then separates to become a new organism
Regeneration - A type of asexual reproduction in which an entire organism grows from a piece of the
parent organism
Spores - A type of asexual reproduction in which a single cell is encapsulated in a tough outer coating
and can produce a new individual, either immediately or after a period of dormancy
3. How are mitosis and the budding of yeast cells different?
In mitosis, there is an equal division of the cytoplasm and the daughter cells do not remain attached to
each other. In budding, one of the cells gets most of the cytoplasm and the resulting cells remain
attached for a time. The smaller cell is called the bud.
4. Give 3 examples of regeneration (vegetative propagation) in plants.
Runners, bulbs, and cuttings
5. Which of the 4 kinds of asexual reproduction you listed in #2 are used by animals? Give an example of
each.
Budding (hydra) and regeneration (planaria)
6. Name an organism that reproduces by spores.
Some bacteria (such as anthrax), fungi, mosses and ferns (NOTE: Plant spores and some fungus
spores are part of a sexual life cycle and produce offspring that are NOT identical to their parents.)
7. How do the offspring produced through asexual reproduction compare genetically to their parent?
They are genetically identical.