Chapter 8: Mitosis - Cell Division and Reproduction

2. Asexual Reproduction:
Production of offspring by a single parent through:
Splitting: Binary fission in bacteria.
Budding: Yeasts, plants
Fragmentation: Sea stars
Parthenogenesis: “Virgin birth”. Several insect species.
Offspring inherit DNA form one parent only.
Offspring are genetically identical to parent and siblings,
unless mutations occur.
Advantages:
Can reproduce without a partner of opposite sex.
Don’t spend time, energy, and resources to find a suitable mate.
Parents pass on 100% of their genetic information to each
offspring.
Disadvantage:
No genetic diversity of offspring.
• Population less likely to survive changing environment.