What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (2024)

Table of Contents

  • Reproduction Definition
  • Asexual Reproduction
  • Sexual Reproduction
  • Reproduction in Plants
  • Reproduction in Animals

Reproduction Definition

“Reproduction is the process of producing offspring that are biologically or genetically similar to the parent organism.”

What is Reproduction?

Reproduction is a biological process by which an organism reproduces an offspring that is biologically similar to the organism. Reproduction enables and ensures the continuity of species, generation after generation. It is the main feature of life on earth.

Let us have a detailed overview of reproduction, its types and the modes of reproduction in plants and animals.

Types of Reproduction

There are basically two types of reproduction:

  1. Asexual Reproduction
  2. Sexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

“Asexual reproduction refers to the type of reproduction in which only a single organism gives rise to a new individual.”

Binary Fission (Asexual Reproduction) – Diagram

What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (1)

Asexual reproduction does not involve the fusion of gametes, and therefore, the offsprings produced are genetically identical to the parent. The organisms produced by asexual reproduction are less diverse in nature. This type of reproduction is practised widely by unicellular organisms.

The process involves rapid population growth and no mate is required for the process. However, a lack of genetic diversity makes organisms more susceptible to diseases and nutrition deficiencies.

Asexual reproduction is further divided into:

  1. Binary Fission:In this, the cell splits into two each cell carrying a copy of the DNA from the parent cell. For eg., amoeba.
  2. Budding:In this, a small bud-like outgrowth gives rise to a new individual. The outgrowth remains attached to the organism until it is fully grown. It detaches itself and lives as an individual organism. For eg., hydra
  3. Fragmentation:In this, the parent organism splits into several parts and each part grows into a new individual. For eg., Planaria
  4. Sporogenesis:In this type of reproduction, a new organism grows from the spores. These can be created without fertilization and can spread through wind and animals.

Also Read:Modes of reproduction

Sexual Reproduction

“Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that involves the production of an offspring by the fusion of male and female gametes.”

Sexual Reproduction Diagram

What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (2)

In sexual reproduction, male and female gametes are formed to produce an offspring. These gametes are either formed by the same individual or by different individuals of the opposite sex.

This process is usually slow and complex compared to asexual reproduction. The organisms so produced are genetically diverse. Thus, they can evolve along with the changing climatic conditions. Humans and many multicellular organisms exhibit a sexual mode of reproduction.

Reproduction in Plants

Plants reproduce by sexual and asexual means. Vegetative reproduction is the main mode of plant reproduction. Roots such as a corm, stem tuber, rhizomes and stolon undergo vegetative propagation.

Diagram of Asexual Reproduction in Plants

What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (3)

Sexual reproduction in plants takes place through pollination in which the pollen grains from the anther of a male flower transfer to the stigma of the female flower.

Sexual Reproduction in Plants – Diagram

What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (4)

A few plants produce seeds without fertilization and the process is called apomixis. Here, the ovule or the ovary gives rise to new seeds.

Also Read:Reproduction in plants

Reproduction in Animals

Animals reproduce sexually as well as asexually. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes. This process is known as fertilization. Fertilization can be external or internal. External fertilization is the process in which the male sperm fertilizes the female egg outside the female’s body. On the contrary, in internal fertilization, the fusion of male and female gametes takes place inside the body of the female.

Asexual reproduction involves reproduction processes such as binary fission, budding, fragmentation, etc. The organisms have no reproductive systems and therefore no formation of male and female gametes takes place.

Thus, we see how beneficial reproduction is to continue life on earth.

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To know more about reproduction, and different types of reproduction, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download the BYJU’S app for further reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Define Reproduction.

Reproduction is the biological process by which new individual organisms which are known as “offspring” are produced from already existing individuals known as “parents”.

Define Asexual Reproduction.

Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism, and inherit the genes of that parent only. It does not involve the fusion of gametes.

What are the types of Asexual Reproduction?

Different types of Asexual Reproduction are:

a) Binary Fission
b) Budding
c) Fragmentation
d) Sporogenesis

What are the advantages of Sexual Reproduction.

Advantages of sexual reproduction are:
Variations: Due to recombination and crossing over, sexual reproduction brings about variations in species. Variations are essential for the individuality and evolution of species.Better adaptability: Increased variability due to sexual reproduction helps in better adaptability of species.Evolution: It helps in the evolution of species.
Harmful traits can be removed by a selection of better-adapted individuals or maybe not be expressed due to the reshuffling of gene pairs.

What is the difference between sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction?

The differences between Sexual and Asexual reproduction are:

SexualAsexual
Two parents take partSingle parent
Variation occurs in offspringOffspring are genetically identical to each other and to their parent
Fertilization takes placeNo Internal fertilization or External fertilization
Gametes are involvedNo gametes
Mixing of hereditary materialNo mixing of hereditary material
What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction (2024)

FAQs

What Is Reproduction? - Definition & Types Of Reproduction? ›

Reproduction is the production of offspring. There are two main forms: sexual and asexual reproduction. In sexual reproduction, an organism combines the genetic information from each of its parents and is genetically unique. In asexual reproduction, one parent copies itself to form a genetically identical offspring.

What is reproduction and types of reproduction definition? ›

Reproduction is the production of offspring. There are two main forms: sexual and asexual reproduction. In sexual reproduction, an organism combines the genetic information from each of its parents and is genetically unique. In asexual reproduction, one parent copies itself to form a genetically identical offspring.

What is reproduction best answer? ›

Reproduction is a biological process by which an organism reproduces an offspring that is biologically similar to the organism. Reproduction enables and ensures the continuity of species, generation after generation. It is the main feature of life on earth.

What is the simple definition of reproduction? ›

1. : the act or process of reproducing. specifically : the process by which plants and animals give rise to offspring and which fundamentally consists of the segregation of a portion of the parental body by a sexual or an asexual process and its subsequent growth and differentiation into a new individual.

What is the definition of reproduction in biology? ›

Reproduction refers to the production of offspring by organized bodies. The offspring is produced as a new individual organism from the parent(s). It is one of the fundamental attributes of a living thing. Reproduction is a demonstration of the ability of an organism to produce a new organism referred to as offspring.

What are the different types of asexual reproduction and definition? ›

The different types of asexual reproduction are binary fission, budding, vegetative propagation, spore formation (sporogenesis), fragmentation, parthenogenesis, and apomixis. The organisms that reproduce through asexual means are bacteria, archaea, many plants, fungi, and certain animals.

What is an example of reproduce? ›

Sound effects can reproduce the sound of thunder. They haven't been able to reproduce the results of the first experiment. Salmon return to the stream to reproduce offspring. The virus is able to reproduce itself very rapidly.

What are the 3 types of reproduction? ›

Key Terms
TermMeaning
Sexual reproductionProcess of creating new individual using two parent organisms
Asexual reproductionProcess of creating new individual using one parent organism
OffspringNew organism that results from reproduction
GameteSex cell (in males: sperm; in females: eggs)
2 more rows

What are the different types of reproduction? ›

There are two types of reproduction: asexual and sexual reproduction. Though asexual reproduction is faster and more energy efficient, sexual reproduction better promotes genetic diversity through new combinations of alleles during meiosis and fertilization.

What is reproduction and why is it important? ›

It is a biological process through which living organisms produce offspring similar to them. Reproduction ensures the continuity of various species on the Earth. In the absence of reproduction, the species will not be able to exist for a long time and may soon get extinct.

Why do we reproduce? ›

Reproduction is necessary for living things because it enables them to create offspring and continue their population. Through reproduction, they pass on their genetic information to the next generation. This ensures that their species continues to exist on Earth which is why the organism reproduces. Q.

How does reproduction take place in humans? ›

Human reproduction is any form of sexual reproduction resulting in human fertlization, typically involving sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. During sexual intercourse, the interaction between the and female reproductive system results in fertilization of the woman's ovum by the man's sperm.

Can a human asexually reproduce? ›

Parthenogenesis is unknown in human beings. It has been reported in lizards though. Of course, cloning is an asexual reproduction, but that requires medical intervention. Left on their own, humans cannot reproduce asexually.

Why is reproduction an important characteristic of life? ›

All living organisms must have the ability to reproduce. Living things make more organisms like themselves. Whether the organism is a rabbit, or a tree, or a bacterium, life will create more life. If a species cannot create the next generation, the species will go extinct.

What is reproduction in sociology? ›

Reproduction is understood as the maintenance and continuation of existing social relations. Originally proposed by Karl Marx in Das Kapital, this concept is a variety of Marx's notion of economic reproduction.

What is the difference between reproductive and reproduction? ›

As nouns the difference between reproduction and reproductive. is that reproduction is the act of reproducing new individuals biologically while reproductive is (biology) a reproductive organism (especially such as in an insect).

What is the reproduction of plants? ›

Reproduction in plants takes place sexually and asexually as well. But the majority of the flowering plants reproduce sexually. The flower is the reproductive part of a plant i.e., both male and female gametes are produced by flowers. Sexual reproduction in plants takes place in flowers.

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