8

HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE?

 HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE?
1. Name the type of asexual reproduction in which two
individuals are formed from a single parent and the
parental identity is lost. Draw the initial and the final
stages of this type of reproduction. State the event with 14.
which this reproduction starts.
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2015]
2. (a) Name the human male reproductive organ that 15.
produces sperms and also secretes a hormone. Write the
functions of the secreted hormone.
(b) Name the parts of the human female reproductive
system where
(i) fertilization takes place,
(ii) implantation of the fertilized egg occurs.
Explain how the embryo gets nourishment inside the
mother’s body. 16.
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2015]
3. What are those organisms called which bear both the sex
organs in the same individual. Give one example of such
an organism. 17.
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 2, 2016]
4. List two functions of the ovary of the human female
reproductive system.
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 3, 2016]
5. Name the part of Bryophyllum where the buds are 18.
produced for vegetative propagation.
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2016]
6. Name the method by which Spirogyra reproduces under
favorable conditions. Is this method sexual or asexual?
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2017]
7. A How does Plasmodium reproduce? Is this method 19.
sexual or asexual?
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 3, 2017]
8. How does Planaria reproduce? Is this method sexual or 20.
asexual?
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 2, 2017] 21.
9. Reproduction is one of the most important characteristics
of living beings. Give three reasons in support of the
statement.
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2017] 22.
10. List three techniques that have been developed to prevent
pregnancy. Which one of these techniques is not meant
for males? How does the use of these techniques have a
direct impact on the health and prosperity of a family?
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2017]
11. State the basic requirement for sexual reproduction. Write
the importance of such reproduction in nature.
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2017]
12. State the changes that take place in the uterus when:
(a) Implantation of embryos has occurred.
(b) Female gamete/egg is not fertilized.
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2017]
13. Mention the total number of chromosomes along with the 23. (a) Draw a diagram showing germination of pollen on
sex chromosomes that are present in a human female and
a human male. Explain how in sexually producing
2
organisms the number of chromosomes in the progeny
remains the same as that of the parents
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 2, 2017]
Draw in sequence (showing the four stages), the process
of binary fission in Amoeba.
[CBSE OD, Term 2, Set 1, 2017]
(a) Write the function of following parts in human
female reproductive system:
(i) Ovary
(ii) Oviduct
(iii) Uterus
(b) Describe in brief the structure and function of
placenta. [CBSE, 2018]
[CBSE Delhi, Term 2, Set 1, 2016]
Name the process by which an Amoeba reproduces.
Draw the various stages of its reproduction in a proper
sequence.
[CBSE, 2018]
A student is viewing under a microscope a permanent
slide showing various stages of asexual reproduction by
budding in yeast. Draw diagrams of what he observes in
proper sequence.
[CBSE, 2018]
After examining a prepared slide under the high power of
a compound microscope, a student concludes that the
given slide shows the various stages of binary fission in a
unicellular organism. Write two observations on the basis
of which such a conclusion may be drawn.
[CBSE OD, Set 1, 2019]
Draw a labeled diagram in proper sequence to show
budding in hydra.
[CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2019]
What is carpel? Write the function of its various parts.
[CBSE OD, Set 1, 2019]
Distinguish between pollination and fertilization.
Mention the site and the product of fertilization in a
flower.
[CBSE OD, Set 2, 2019]
(a) Identify the given diagram. Name the parts 1 to 5.
(b) What is contraception? List three advantages of
adopting contraceptive measures.
[CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2019]
stigma of a flower and mark on it the following
organs/parts :
 HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE? 3

(i) Pollen Grain (d) Write two factors that determine the size of a
(ii) Pollen tube population.
(iii) Stigma [CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2020]
(iv)Female germ cell
(b) State the significance of pollen tube.
(c) Name the parts of flower that develop after
fertilization into
(i) Seed (ii) Fruit
[CBSE OD, Set 1, 2020]
24. Questions numbers 1(a) to 1(d) are based on the table
given below. Study the table in which the levels of
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in women are given
and answer the questions that follow on the basis of
understanding of the following paragraph and the related
studied concepts.
Age Range Normal (mU/L) Low (mU/L)
18 – 29 years 0.4 – 2.34 mU/L < 0.4 mU/L
30 – 49 years 0.4 – 4.0 mU/L < 0.4 mU/L
50 – 79 years 0.46 – 4.68 mU/L < 0.46 mU/L
Women are at greater risk for developing abnormal TSH
levels during menstruation, while giving birth and after
going through menopause. Around 5% of women in the
United States have some kind of thyroid problem
compared to 3% of men. Despite claims that high TSH
increases your risk for heart disease, a 2013 study found
no link between high TSH and heart diseases. But a 2017
study showed that older women are especially at risk for
developing thyroid cancer if they have high TSH levels
along with thyroid nodules.
(a) A 35 year old woman has TSH level 6.03 mU/L.
What change should she bring in her diet to control this
level?
(b) When do women face a greater risk of abnormal TSH
level?
(c) State the consequence of low TSH level.
(d) Name the mineral that is responsible for synthesis of
hormones secreted by thyroid gland.
[CBSE OD, Set 1, 2020]

25. The growing size of the human population is a cause of

concern for all people. The rate of birth and death in a
given population will determine its size. Reproduction is
the process by which organisms increase their population.
The process of sexual maturation for reproduction is
gradual and takes place while general body growth is still
going on. Some degree of sexual maturation does not
necessarily mean that the mind or body is ready for
sexual acts or for having and bringing up children.
Various contraceptive devices are being used by human
beings to control the size of the population.
(a) List two common signs of sexual maturation in boys
and girls.
(b) What is the result of reckless female foeticide?
(c) Which contraceptive method changes the hormonal
balance of the body?
 HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE?
Solutions:
1. Binary fission
2. (a) Testis produces sperms and male hormone
testosterone. Testosterone helps in formation of sperms
and development of secondary sexual characters.
(b) (i) Fallopian tube
(ii) Uterus.
Embryo in the mother is attached by a disc-like tissue
called placenta. It provides a large surface area for
glucose and oxygen to pass from the mother’s blood to
the fetus.
3. Those organisms which bear both the sex organs in the
same individual are called bisexual organisms. Example:
Hydra.
4. (i) To produce female gametes.
(ii) To secrete female sex hormones.
5. In Bryophyllum the buds are produced in leaf notches.
6. Under favorable conditions, Spirogyra reproduces by
fragmentation. This is an asexual method of reproduction.
7. Plasmodium reproduces by a process known as multiple
fission. Multiple fission is a type of asexual reproduction
in which a single parent cell divides into several daughter
individuals. In this process, the parent nucleus divides
several times into a number of daughter nuclei. Later the
cytoplasm divides into as many pieces as the number of
nuclei and each piece surrounds each nucleus. Each
uninucleated piece develops an outer membrane and
finally the parent cell divides into several uninucleate
individuals.
8. Planaria reproduces by the process of regeneration. It is
a type of asexual reproduction in which Planaria is cut
into any number of pieces each piece grows into a new
organism.
9. Reproduction is an energy consuming process which is
not essential for the survival of an individual. But it is
highly essential for all the living beings because of the
following reasons:
(i) Reproduction helps in increasing the number of
members of a population.
(ii) By replacing the dead members with the new ones, it
minimizes the risk of extinction of a species.
(iii) It brings about variations in species thus, leading to
their evolution.
10. Three techniques that have been developed to prevent
pregnancy are:
(i) Mechanical Methods: Include condoms, diaphragm,
IUCDs, etc.
(ii) Chemical Methods: Include oral contraceptive pills,
spermicide.
4
(iii) Surgical Method: Includes vasectomy and
tubectomy.
The chemical methods are not meant for males.
The use of such contraceptive methods have various
benefits, such as:
(i) Large size of families have a negative impact on the
economic status of the family.
(ii) Having pregnancies at quick successions reduces
mother’s health and vitality. Use of contraceptive devices
thus affects the maternal health status.
(iii) Some contraceptive devices (such as condoms) are
also helpful in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
11. The basic requirements for sexual reproduction to take
place is the involvement of two parents and fusion of
their haploid gametes. In the sexual reproduction, a new
individual is formed which is diploid in nature, the
gametes, one from the male parent and other from the
female parent. Since the new individual formed is diploid
in nature, the gametes must be formed by meiosis, so that
chromosome number can be reduced to half. When fusion
of gametes occurs, the nuclei of these two gametes fuse
and the chromosome number is then restored to normal.
The zygote, thus formed, is diploid in nature. Importance
of sexual reproduction:
(i) Sexual reproduction involves fusion of male and
female gametes from both the parents, thus results in
genetic variations in the offsprings.
(ii) Sexual reproduction promotes diversity of characters
in offsprings by providing genetic variations.
(iii) These genetic variations, thus lead to evolution of
species as well as allow the organisms to become better
adapted in the changing environment.
12. (a) When implantation has occurred in uterus of the
mother, the inner lining
the uterus thickens and is richly supplied with the blood
vessels to provide nourishment to the growing embryo.
(b) If the egg is not fertilized, it lives for about one day.
Since, the thickened uterus lining is no longer required, it
will slowly break down and come out through the vagina
as blood and mucus known as menstruation which lasts
for about two to eight days.
13. The total number of chromosomes present in both
human male and female is 46. Out of these, two
chromosomes are the sex chromosomes. In human males,
the two sex chromosomes present are X and Y, while in
human female, both sex chromosomes are X. During
sexual reproduction, the new individual is formed by the
fusion of gametes from both the parents. These gametes
are haploid in nature i.e., they contain only one set of
chromosomes.
During the process of meiosis the number becomes half.
When these haploid gametes fuse during fertilization the
nuclei of these two gametes fuse and the chromosome
 HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE?
number is then restored to normal. Hence the progeny
formed has the same number of chromosomes as that of
the parents.
14. Binary Fission in Amoeba is asexual type of
reproduction in which the organism splits
directly into two equal-sized offsprings, each with a copy
of the parent’s genetic material.
15. (a) (i) Ovary: It produces eggs for fertilization. It
secretes estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen regulates
secondary sexual characters and progesterone controls the
thickness of the lining of uterus.
(ii) Oviduct: It is the site of fertilization and carries egg
or fertilized ovum (zygote) to the
uterus.
(iii) Uterus: It helps to nourish the fertilized ovum that
will develop into the fetus. It holds the baby till it is ready
for birth.
(b) Placenta is a disc shaped structure on the uterine wall
before implantation of embryo. It provides oxygen and
nutrients to the fetus. It helps to remove waste also. The
placenta is composed of both material tissues and tissue
derived from the embryo. The chorion is the embryonic
derived portion of the placenta. It is composed of fetal
blood vessels and trophoblasts which are organized into
finger-like structures called chorionic villi.
16. Amoeba reproduces by binary fission. It results in
division of nucleus followed by division of cytoplasm.
17.
18. (i) The nucleus of a mature cell seems elongated and a
grove is formed in the cell which divides the nucleus.
(ii) A single parent divides to form two daughter cells.
Constriction appears due to the division of the cytoplasm.
19.
5
20. The flask-shaped organ in the center of a flower is
called a carpel. It is also called the female reproductive
organ of the plant. It is made up of three parts:
(i) Stigma
(ii) Style
(iii) Ovary.
(i) Stigma is the top part of the carpel and is sticky. So, it
receives the pollen from the anther of stamen.
(ii) Style connects stigma to ovary and acts as the passage
for the growth of the pollen tube.
(iii) Ovary contains female gametes of the plant and help
in reproduction. It is the site of fertilization.
21. (i) The transfer of pollen grains from anther of a stamen
to the stigma of a carpel is called pollination whereas
fertilization is the fusion of male and female gamete to
form a zygote.
(ii) Pollination is an external mechanism whereas
fertilization is an internal mechanism which takes place
inside the flower.
The site of fertilization in flowers is ovary.
The product of fertilization in flowers is zygote
22. The parts of the female reproductive system are as
follows:
1. Fallopian tube or Oviduct
2. Ovary 3. Uterus
4. Cervix 5. Vagina
Contraception is the method by which a female inhibits
fertilization and hence prevents pregnancy.
The three advantages of contraception are:
(i) It makes the people more aware about the concept of
family planning keeping the population under control.
(ii) It educates the people about Sexually Transmitted
Diseases and ways to avoid it.
(iii) It helps the female to space children.
(iv) It reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancies
23. (a)
 HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE? 6

(b) The pollen tube of most seed plants acts as a

passageway. It transports sperm cells from the pollen
grain, from the stigma (in flowering plants) to the ovules
at the base of the pistil.
(c) After fertilization, the zygote divides several times to
form an embryo within the ovule.
(i) The ovule develops a tough coat and is gradually
converted into a seed.
(ii) The ovary grows rapidly and ripens to form a fruit.
24. (a) Maintaining the level of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty
acids in the diet could help healthy neurological functions
and reduce inflammation. Wild fish such as mackerel,
salmon
and sardines are among the best sources of omega-3s to
develop an improved immune system. A diet with protein
rich food can help to reduce symptoms of thyroid
imbalance.
(b) Women are at greater risk for developing abnormal
TSH levels during menstruation, when giving birth and
after going through menopause.
(c) Low TSH levels indicate hyperthyroidism. This is
also known as an overactive thyroid.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
(i) An irregular or rapid heartbeat.
(ii) Weight loss, eye or vision changes.
(iii) Palpitations, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, sweating,
feeling ‘hot’.
(iv) Diarrhea, stomach and bowel abnormalities or
anxiety.
(v) Insomnia (trouble sleeping), fatigue, weakness or hair
loss.
(d) Iodine is the most well-known mineral for thyroid
health. It is essential for the thyroid to build T4 and T3
hormones.
25. (a) Common signs of sexual maturation in boys and
girls are:
(i) Thick hair growing in new parts of the body such as
armpits and the genital area between the thighs. Thinner
hair can also appear on legs and arms, as well as on the
face.
(ii) The skin frequently becomes oily and might begin to
develop pimples.
(b) Due to reckless female foeticides, child sex ratio is
declining at an alarming rate in some sections of the
society.
(c) Contraceptive pills change the hormonal balance of
the body.
(d) Birth rate and Death rates are the factors which
determine the size of the population.