ShareOffspring Traits - To Double, or Not To Double ... That is the Question!
You have learned about Asexual and Sexual Reproduction. Recall that Asexual Reproduction involves a single parent, while Sexual Reproduction involves two parents. Now it is time to look closely at a variety of different organisms and determine which method of reproduction each uses.
Carefully read the information below. It provides information about how many organisms reproduce. When you finish, take the short quiz at the bottom. Good luck!
Toad
Like nearly all animals toads reproduce sexually. Toads are amphibians
which means they require water for their reproductive processes. Toads
have both male and females. The males and females join in the water
and the female lays her eggs in the water. The young tadpoles then
grow up in the water until they developy into adults
Daffodil
Like nearly all plants,daffodils reproduce
sexually.The flower contains both male and female parts and is part
of the reproductive structure of the plant. The flower will produce
seeds which can grow into a new plant. Daffodils grow from bulbs.
The bulb can be split and both parts will grow into Daffodils so under
special circumstances it can also reproduce asexually.
Lizard
Like nearly all animals lizards reproduce sexually. Lizards are reptiles
and lay eggs. Lizards have both males and females. The males and females
join together and the female lays her eggs in a small hollow in either
dirt or sand. Large reptiles like crocodiles and alligators actually
build nests and even care for their young. Certain lizards actually
reproduce asexually and only have females. This process is unique
to a very small group of lizards and is the exception to nearly all
animals reproducing sexually.
Sponge
Sponges are an animal and like nearly all animals reproduce sexually.
They are one of the animals that it is hard to tell the difference
between male and female but they do have reproductive cells that join
together and can grow into a new sponge. Sponges can also reproduce
asexually when any part of it gets cut off. If the cut-off part lands
or is put somewhere that is favorable, it will grow
Mushroom
Mushrooms have a stage in their lifestyle when the produce spores
that are asexual and another stage where the produce male and female
cells and reproduce sexually. The mushroom that you are used to seeing
is actually an asexual part of the entire fungus which are usally
microscopic threads under ground.
Starfish
Starfish are another that are in both sexual and asexual groups when
it comes to reproduction. Starfish do produce sex cells which combine
with the sex cells from other starfish and produce new genetically
different offspring. If starfish are injured, however, they regrow
the damaged parts. If part of the center remains attached to a leg
the entire animal will regrow. This wasn't known by early oyster fishermen.
The fishermen knew that starfish pulled open and ate oysters and so
when they found them or brought them up while fishing they would take
a knife or hatchet and cut them in half then throw them back. Would
you recommend this action for getting rid of starfish? What might
be a better way?
Petunia
A petunia is different than a daffodil. It does not grow from a bulb
and basically only reproduces sexually. It, like many other plants,
can be propagated.
Beetle
Beetles are animals as are all insects and they reproduce sexually.
Bee
Bees are another insect and although almost all of the bees you see
are females, they don't reproduce. There is a queen that mates with
male bees. In most bees, unfertilized eggs develop into males and
fertilized eggs develop into females. The queen stores sperm inside
her body and doesn't have to mate each time she lays an egg.
Seal
Seals like all mammals reproduce sexually. The come together once
a year to give birth to their young and then find a mate.
Paramecium
Paramecia are single celled protozoa. They reproduce when they get
large enough. When the single cell has enough energy and other resources,
it divides into two smaller cells. Each of these cells is genetically
the same as the original.
Ferret
Ferrets reproduce sexually; but the ferrets you see as pets usually
have been surgically altered so they can't reproduce.
Flower
This small flower like nearly all plants reproduces sexually. As stated
before flowers are actually part of the reproduction process in plants.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish go through a cycle similar to mushrooms in that both
of them have a sexually reproducing portion of their life cycle
and both have an asexually reproducing part of their life cycle.
The asexual part is called a polyp and it doesn't move. The sexual
part is called a medusa and is what you see at the right top of
the picture.
Fish
Fish almost always reproduce sexually. There are a few species that
like the lizards mentioned earlier can reproduce without males. A
few unusual species of fish can even change gender if there are no
males present.
Seagull
Seagulls are birds, which like nearly every animal reproduces sexually.
Prickly
pear cactus
Prickly pear cactus is a plant that has not only adapted to the desert
climate but also to reproduce asexually. The prickly pear actually
has a flower and reproduces with seeds, but it also reproduces asexually.
The large pads of the prickly pear easily break off so if an animal
like an antelope, coyote or even cows walk too close the spines of
the cactus will stick into them and the animal will carry the pad
along for some distance. When the pad falls off or is removed by the
animal, the pad can grow into a new patch of prickly pear cactus.
Click the button next to the best answer about each of the following organisms. When you finish, check your answers by highlighting the box below.
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| 1. Asexual Reproduction, 2. Sexual Reproduction, 3. Sexual Reproduction, 4. Asexual Reproduction, 5. Sexual Reproduction |
