Question

Name two modes of reproduction.

Answer 1

Hint: Reproduction is the act of producing new individuals in the community or population. Reproduction is necessary to maintain the race of a species. Without reproduction, no new organisms would be brought into this world and the older ones would die, which would eventually result in the extinction of the race.

Complete answer:
Reproduction is broadly classified into two main modes:
1. Asexual
2. Sexual
Asexual reproduction is the type where similar offsprings are produced from one parent only, which are the exact copy of the parent. In this mode only one parent is involved. This signifies that this kind of reproduction fails to introduce variations in the genome of the organisms. The organisms behave and look exactly as the parent and are sometimes referred to as “somaclones”. Due to lack of variation, the only possible option that may account to evolution in these organisms are mutations in the genome, which are random and discrete.
This kind of reproduction (also known as vegetative reproduction) commonly occurs in plants, in unicellular prokaryotes, in algae, and other lower-level organisms.
Sexual reproduction is the type where two parents are involved. Here gametes (haploid) are produced from each parent which combine to form a zygote (diploid), which ultimately develops into a mature individual. Here, the genetic material from either parent combines in the zygote, so variations are introduced in the new offspring born. Variations help in better adjustment of the organism to the environment. The offspring don’t look the same or resemble fully any of the parents, but have traits and similarities combined and inherited from both.
This kind of reproduction is seen in higher organisms including humans and plants. Certain lower-class organisms like algae also show this type of reproduction where the genetic materials of two strands combine together (conjugation).

Note:
These are the major categories of reproduction which are further divided into subcategories. Asexual reproductions are further divided into certain types like:
1. Budding (Hydra)
2. Regeneration (Planaria)
3. Fission (Euglena, Vorticella)
4. Fragmentation (Hydra)
Sexual reproduction is further divided into two types (generally):
1. Internal fertilization: The gametes unite inside the female body and the zygote is formed.
2. Indirect fertilization: The gametes unite outside the parent’s bodies like in frogs, toads.