Reproduction, the genome and gene expression - AQA Asexual reproduction
Reproduction occurs in all organisms. DNA is important, as it allows new proteins to be synthesised. Mutations in the DNA can have serious implications.
Only one parent is needed in asexual reproductionType of reproduction involving only one parent.. There is no fusion of gameteSex cell (sperm in males and ova/eggs in females). so genetic material does not mix, which means that the offspring produced through this process are genetically identical cloneAn organism that is genetically identical to another organism. to the parent.
Examples of organisms that use asexual reproduction include:
bacteriaSingle-celled microorganisms, some of which are pathogenic in humans, animals and plants. Singular is bacterium.
production of sporeA unit of asexual reproduction in some organisms. by fungiA large group of eukaryotic organisms that contain single-celled yeasts, moulds and mushrooms.
some plants, such as strawberries, use runners
formation of tuberA swollen, fleshy underground stem of a plant, such as the potato, bearing buds from which new plant shoots arise. in potatoes and bulbs in daffodils
Mitosis
Asexual reproduction uses the process of mitosisA type of cell division which produces daughter cells identical to the parent. to create the identical copies (clones) of the parent cell.
Mitosis is part of the cell cycle, which involves:
cell growth, and the increase of the number of structures in the cell (mitochondria, ribosomes)
genetic material is copied
mitosis occurs leading to chromosomeThe structure made of DNA that codes for all the characteristics of an organism. separation and cell division