Reproduction

Step 1: Living organisms can produce new individuals of their own kind. Step 2: This helps maintain continuity of the species. Step 3: Therefore the process is called reproduction.

Step 1: An organism can live for some time without reproducing. Step 2: But without reproduction new members of that species will not form. Step 3: So reproduction is necessary for continuity of the species.

Step 1: When only one parent forms a new organism there is no fusion of parents. Step 2: Offspring are usually similar to the parent. Step 3: This is called asexual reproduction.

Step 1: In sexual reproduction male and female gametes are formed. Step 2: Their fusion starts the formation of a new organism. Step 3: Therefore it is called sexual reproduction.

Step 1: Asexual reproduction involves one parent. Step 2: The offspring receives genetic information from that parent only. Step 3: So offspring usually look similar to the parent.

Step 1: Amoeba is a unicellular organism. Step 2: It divides its cell into two parts to form new organisms. Step 3: This method is called binary fission.

Step 1: Binary fission means division into two parts. Step 2: The parent cell divides its material. Step 3: Finally two daughter cells are formed.

Step 1: A small outgrowth forms on the body of Hydra. Step 2: This outgrowth grows into a new organism. Step 3: This method is called budding.

Step 1: In budding a small outgrowth appears on the parent body. Step 2: It grows by receiving nutrition. Step 3: Later it may separate and form a new organism.

Step 1: Spirogyra has a filament like body. Step 2: The filament can break into smaller pieces. Step 3: Each piece can grow into a new organism so it is called fragmentation.

Step 1: In fragmentation the parent body breaks into pieces. Step 2: If pieces can grow they form new organisms. Step 3: Spirogyra is a simple example.

Step 1: In some simple organisms a body part can form a new body. Step 2: It may be more than wound healing and can form a new organism. Step 3: This ability is called regeneration.

Step 1: Planaria is an organism with a simple body plan. Step 2: A piece of its body can form a new organism. Step 3: This is an example of regeneration.

Step 1: Fungi can produce tiny spores. Step 2: Under favourable conditions they germinate to form new organisms. Step 3: So spores help in reproduction.

Step 1: Bread mould forms tiny spores. Step 2: These spores may appear as black spots in groups. Step 3: Under favourable conditions they form new moulds.

Step 1: Some plants can form new plants from root stem or leaf. Step 2: Seeds are not needed in this method. Step 3: This is called vegetative propagation.

Step 1: Potato is an underground stem. Step 2: Small buds on it are called eyes. Step 3: These eyes can sprout and form a new plant.

Step 1: Buds form on the margins of Bryophyllum leaves. Step 2: These buds can separate and form new plants. Step 3: This is an example of vegetative propagation.

Step 1: In vegetative propagation a new plant forms from a plant part. Step 2: The new plant usually has the same qualities as the parent. Step 3: So a good variety can be multiplied quickly.

Step 1: A flower may have male and female reproductive parts. Step 2: Stamen is the male reproductive part. Step 3: It produces pollen grains.

Step 1: The female part of a flower is linked with ovules. Step 2: Pistil is the female reproductive part. Step 3: It includes stigma style and ovary.

Step 1: Pollen grains carry male reproductive cells. Step 2: They are formed in the anther of stamen. Step 3: During pollination they reach the female part.

Step 1: The swollen lower part of pistil is the ovary. Step 2: Ovules are present inside the ovary. Step 3: After fertilisation an ovule can become a seed.

Step 1: Pollen grains are formed in the anther. Step 2: Their transfer to stigma is an important step in reproduction. Step 3: This is called pollination.

Step 1: When pollen reaches the stigma of the same plant no other plant is involved. Step 2: This is a simple form of pollination. Step 3: It is called self pollination.