1.

) Reproduction in
Organisms

Class 12
● The period from birth to the
natural death of an organisms
represents it's life span.

● Reproduction is defined as a
biological process in which an
organism give rise to young
ones(offspring) similar to itself.
● When offspring is produced by a single parent
with or without the involvement of gamete
formation the reproduction is asexual.

● When two parents (opposite sex) participate in

the reproductive process and also involve the
fusion of male and female gametes,it is called
sexual reproduction.
Asexual Reproduction

Sexual
Asexual
● Asexual Reproduction:- When
offspring is produced by a single
parent with or without involvement of
gamete formation,the Reproduction is
asexual.
● The term clone is used to describe
such morphologically and
genetically similar individuals.
● Common in- single-celled
organisms and plants and animals
of simple organization.
● In protists and Monerans,Cell
division is itself a mode of
Reproduction.
 Fission

1. Binary Fission
2. Multiple Fission
● In Binary fission,cell divides into two
halves and each rapidly grows into an
adult.(eg. Amoeba, Paramecium)
● Multiple Fission
Under unfavorable condition the Amoeba
withdraws it's pseudopodia and secrete a
three layered hard covering or cyst
around itself.
● When favourable condition return,the
encysted amoeba divides by multiple
fission and produces many minute
amoeba or pseudopodio spores,the
cyst walls burst out and the spores are
liberated in the surrounding medium to
grow up into many amoebae.This
phenomenon is known as sporulation.
Budding
● In yeast, the division is unequal and small
buds are produced that remain attached
initially to the parent cell which, eventually
gets separated and mature into new yeast
organisms (cells).
Zoospores
● Members of the Kingdom
Fungi and simple plants
such as algae reproduce
through special asexual
reproductive structures.
● The most common of
these structure are
zoospores.
● In plants,the unit of
vegetative propagation
such as runner,
rhizome,sucker,tuber,o
ffset,bulb are all
capable of giving rise
to new offspring.These
structure are called
vegetative
propagules.
Fragmentation
● In some organisms,if the
body breaks into distinct
pieces(fragments) each
fragments grows into an
adult capable of
producing offsprings.This
is also a mode of asexual
reproduction.
Sexual Reproduction
● Gametes can be formed by same individual
or by different individuals.

● All organisms have to reach a certain

stage of growth and maturity in their life,
before they can reproduce sexually.

That period of growth is called the

juvenile phase.It is known as vegetative
phase in plants.
● The females of placental mammals exhibit
cyclical changes in the activities of ovaries
and accessory ducts as well as hormones
during the reproductive phase
● In non primate mammals
like
cows,sheep,rats,deers,dog
s,tiger etc such cyclical
changes during
reproduction are called
oestrus cycle whereas in
primates (monkeys,apes
and human) it is called
menstrual cycle.
Seasonal breeders:- In favourable
seasons
Continues breeders:- Throughout
their reproductive phase
Events in sexual reproduction
1.) Pre-Fertilisation

2.) Fertilisation

3.) Post-Fertilisation
1.) Pre-Fertilisation
I) Gametogenesis ii) Gamete transfer

● Gametogenesis refers to the

process of formation of the two types
of gametes- male and female.

● Gametes are haploid cells

● In some algae the two gametes are so similar in
appearance that it is not possible to categorie
them into male and female gametes

● They are hence called

homogametes(isogametes).
● The gametes produced of two morphologically
distinct types are called Hetrogametes.
Male Gamete- Antherozoid/sperm.
Female Gamete- Egg/ovum
Sexuality in organisms:-
1. Bisexual- Both male and
female reproductive
structures-(Homothallic/Monoec
ious) eg.-coconuts.

2. Unisexual- Either male or

female reproductive
structures-(Hetrothalic/Dioeciou
s) eg.- papaya
● In flowering plants,the
unisexual male flower is
staminate i.e bearing
stemens

● while the female is

pistillate or bearing
pistils.
● Bisexual- Both male and
female reproductive
organs-(Hermaphrodite)eg.-
earthworms.

● Unisexual- Either male or

female reproductive
organs.eg.- Cockroach