Sexual and asexual reproduction Flashcards – AQA GCSE Biology - Foundation (8461)

What is asexual reproduction?

The production of offspring from one parent, without a genetic contribution from a second parent.

How do offspring produced by asexual reproduction compare genetically with their parent and one another?

They are genetically identical to their parent and to one another.

What is sexual reproduction?

A type of reproduction in which two gametes join to form a new organism.

What happens during fertilisation?

The nuclei of two gametes fuse.

What is a zygote?

The first cell of a new organism, produced by fertilisation.

Why are offspring produced by sexual reproduction genetically different from each other?

They receive genetic material from two parents rather than one.

What is the role of meiosis in reproduction?

It is a type of cell division involved in producing gametes.

Why is meiosis called a reduction division?

It halves the chromosome number: a diploid cell with two sets of chromosomes produces haploid cells with one set.

How do cells produced by meiosis compare genetically with one another and with the original cell?

They are genetically different from one another and are not identical copies of the original cell.

What are gametes?

Reproductive sex cells, such as sperm and egg cells.

What does it mean that gametes are haploid?

They contain one set of chromosomes, rather than the two sets found in most body cells.

How many alleles of each gene on its chromosomes does a gamete normally carry?

One allele.

What happens to the gametes’ chromosome sets at fertilisation?

The two gametes fuse and their chromosome sets combine, giving the offspring genetic information from both parents.