ASEXUAL MODES OF

REPRODUCTION
 REPRODUCTION
• Definition- the process by which the mature
individual of a species form a new generation (or
give rise to progeny) of their similar kind is known
as reproduction.
• It is not an essential life process for the individual
but essential for the continuation of the species.
• Basic Features of Reproduction:-
1.Replication of DNA ( copying of DNA and variation)
2.Cell Division
 Copying of DNA
• The DNA acts as a blue print for the information for
all aspects of the organism and forms a new copy
during the time of cell division.
• Many biochemical reactions occur during the
copying of DNA and hence there are chances that a
few of them can go wrong. Thus the new copy
though similar to the original is not identical.
• The changes produced during the replication give
rise to VARIATIONS or mutations.
 Importance of Variation
• Adaptation – bring about features in the
organisms which enable some of them to
survive in a changing environment and also
multiply.
• Improvement of varieties – it helps improve
the breeds of plants and animals.
• Evolution – variation leads to evolution
• Individuality – variation provides specific
features to the organisms so that they can be
recognized.
 CELL DIVISION
• All cells have to divide to undergo
reproduction. Though cells being of two
different kinds undergo two different kinds of
division namely-
SOMATIC CELLS (UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS)-
MITOSIS
GAMETIC CELLS ( GAMETES/ SEX CELLS) –
MEIOSIS
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MITOSIS& MEIOSIS
MITOSIS
• A process of asexual
reproduction in which the cell
divides in two producing a
replica, with an equal number
of chromosomes in each
resulting diploid cell.
• Also called equational or
somatic division
• Occurs in all organisms
• Doesnot lead to variation or
minimum variation
• 2 diploid daughter cells are
formed
MEIOSIS
• A type of cellular reproduction in
which the number of
chromosomes are reduced by
half through the separation of
homologous chromosomes,
producing two haploid cells.
• Also called reduction division
• Occurs in human, animals, plants
and fungi
• Mixing of DNA leads to variation
• 4 haploid daughter
cells/gametes are formed.
Cell cycle
Daughter cells
formed.
Growth of cell
occurs
Cells attain
maturity
DNA replication
and cell division
follows.
Modes of reproduction
THERE ARE TWO MODES OF
REPRODUCTION :-
1. ASEXUAL MODE OF REPRODUCTION
2. SEXUAL MODE OF REPRODUCTION
• Asexual Reproduction:
• Production of offsprings without
formaton of gamete, fertilization.
– Used by many unicellular organisms,
plants, and lower animals.
– Involves only mitotic cell division =
each offspring has exactly the same
heredity as its parent.
– Usually rapid compared to sexual
reproduction. Types of Asexual
Reproduction Include:
• Fission : simplest form of
asexual reproduction. Parent
organism divides into
approximately two or more
equal parts. Each daughter cell
becomes a new individual.
• BINARY FISSION : Parent
organism divides into
approximately two equal parts.
 multiple Fission
• The parent cell divides
into several , equal
daughter cells
• Budding Parent organism divides
into two unequal parts.
• The new organism is created as a
smaller out growth or bud on the
outside of the parent.
• Buds will brake off and live
independently or remain attached
and form a colony.
Budding
• Yeast – Once the yeast cell reaches a
certain size it undergoes mitosis.
• Once the genetic material is
replicated budding begins.
• Hydra – Cells on the outside of the
parent hydra begin to undergo mitotic
division creating a small group of cells.
Those cells continue to divide until a
completely new hydra is formed which
will grow and Can also reproduce
asexually.
• Spore Formation – spores are small
specialized cells that contain a
nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded
by a thick outside wall which
protects the spore. Under the right
conditions the spore can rise to a
new organism. Found in molds,
yeast, mushrooms, mosses, ferns
and some protozoans. Bacteria use
it as a mode to survive in
unfavorable conditions.
Spore formation
REGENERATION IN PLANARIA
 Regeneration
• Many fully differentiated organisms have the ability to
give rise to new individual organisms from their body
parts. That is, if the individual is somehow cut or
broken up into many pieces, many of these pieces
grow into separate individuals. This is known as
regeneration
• For example, simple animals like Hydra and
• Planaria.
• Regeneration is carried out by specialised cells. These
cells proliferate and make large numbers of cells.
From this mass of cells, different cells undergo
changes to become various cell types and tissues.
Differences between Regeneration
and Fragmentation
Regeneration
• fully differentiated organisms
have the ability to give rise to
new individual organisms from
their body parts.
• Regeneration is carried out by
specialised cells.
• The specialised cells undergo
differentiation and form
various cell tyopes and tissues
in an organised manner.
• Eg: Hydra , Planaria, Star fish
Fragmentation
• Happens in multicellular
organisms with relatively
simple body organisation.
• Simple breakdown of body
into smaller pieces upon
maturation, the fragments
then grow into individuals.
• No requiement of any
specialized tissue or cell for
this purpose.
• Eg: Spirogyra
 Vegetative Reproduction

It is of two types :
1.Natural vegetative
propagation.
2.Artificial vegetative
propagation
 Natural vegetative propagation.

• It can be done by:

• Bulb
• Corm
• Tuber
• Runner/ stolon
• Rhizome
• Bulb : Short
underground stem
surrounded by thick
leaves. Contain
stored food. As the
plant grows it
produces new bulbs
which will grow into
new plants. Tulips,
onions, and lilies.
• Corms Similar
to bulbs but
do not
contain
leaves, just
underground
stems. Water
chestnuts.
• Tuber enlarged
part of an
underground stem
that contains
stored food.
Potatoes are
tubers. “Eyes” are
tiny buds that can
form a new potato
plant.
• Runner or stolen
horizontal stem above
the ground with buds.
If a bud touches the
ground it will form
roots and stems and
start a new plant.
Strawberries.
• Rhizome horizontal
stem that grows
underground. Thick
and contains stored
food. Upper portion
form nodes which will
form buds which will
form new plants.
Lower portion forms
roots. Ferns, cattails,
and water lilies.
Artificial Vegetative Reproduction
• Cutting use a portion of a
developed plant to make a
new plant. Roses, ivy, and
grapevines are reproduced
in this way.
• Layering a stem is bent
so that it is covered
with soil. Once the
branch forms roots it is
disconnected from the
original plant.
Raspberries and roses.
• Grafting = Bud or
stem of one plant is
permanently
attached to the
stem or trunk of a
very similar plant.
The cambium layers
grow together and
form a single plant.
Apple trees.
• The rooted plant is
called the STOCK
while the plant
being grafted is
called SCION
MICROPROPAGATION/TISSUE
CULTURE
• In this method the plant cell or tissue is
cultured in a sterilized medium which results
into formation of an undifferentiated mass of
cell which is called CALLUS.
• Callus is then transferred to another medium
for differentiation of plantlets.
• The plantlets are then transferred to separate
nursery beds and then to the fields after
attaining maturity.
• Eg: orchids, dahlia etc.
• Advantages to vegetative propagation:
1. Plants that grow from seed are not
always exactly the same as their
parents.
2. Takes less time to artificially
propagate.
3. Can create seedless fruits.
4. Grafting can be used to generate
higher levels of fruit and nut
production.