Unit 5: Reproduction and Genetics

There are two main types of reproduction; sexual and asexual. Both share the commonality that more organisms are produced which share some or all of parental DNA (which translates into the physical traits we can observe), but they are accomplished in different ways.

Asexual Reproduction:

This involves one parent whose DNA is copied exactly. This means that organisms "born" of asexual reproduction are exact clones of the parent.

Sexual Reproduction:

This involves two parents who DNA is shuffled, then cut in half. This means that offspring of these matings show variation, or a combination of traits from both parents.