Asexual reproduction: what is, types and examples

The definition of sexual reproduction indicates that this is the physiological process that allows living organisms to transmit their genetic information to their descendants Without the union of gametes from individuals of different sex for such offspring to occur.

It is a much simpler and faster process than sexual reproduction. The following list includes many of the most outstanding characteristics of the asexual reproduction process that many living beings can carry out.

• In asexual reproduction there is a Unique parent.
• The cells involved in asexual reproduction are Somatic cells (non -sexual), which are reproduced by mitosis (as opposed to meiosis that characterizes the sexual reproduction of gametes). Here you can read more about the difference between mitosis and meiosis.
• The Genetic information of the new organisms generated by asexual reproduction is identical to that of his parent.
• There is no exchange of genetic information during asexual reproduction, so The variability of new organisms It is due only and exclusively to possible mutations. In this link you can read about genetic mutations: examples and definition.
• Through asexual reproduction, organisms manage to save large amounts of energy and are able to survive and guarantee the extension and perpetuation of their kind of more direct way that if they did it through sexual reproduction.

Sporulation

This type of asexual reproduction occurs mainly in unicellular organisms such as bacteria and fungi, which, in adverse environmental conditions (excess temperature, lack of nutrients, etc.), are capable of reproducing creating spores such as resistance structures that will be able to survive these unfavorable conditions.

Here you can read more about what is sporulation and examples.

Gemmation

Through the formation of a gem (or yolk) structure in the parent organism (both unicellular and multicellular), a new organism is created in duplication, normally, smaller.

In this other post you can read more about gemation: what is and examples.

Binary fission or bipartition

Through the formation of a partition -shaped structure in the cell membrane, many prokaryotic cell organisms are furified to give rise to new organisms whose genetic material is exactly identical to that of the parent.

Fragmentation or segmentation

This amazing asexual reproduction mechanism is based on the ability of the parent body to fragment one or several parts of its anatomical structure from which a new individual will grow. It is also able to regenerate its own structure. This mechanism is characteristic of some plants and certain animals, such as sea urchins and sea stars. Learn more about this type of asexual reproduction and about these curious animals with these other ecology articles about the sea star: characteristics, reproduction and taxonomy and the types of sea urchins.

Parthenogenesis

This strange asexual reproduction phenomenon allows some animals to reproduce asexually when there are no individuals close to the opposite sex to reproduce sexually. These animals generate diploid eggs by mitosis and is characteristic of many invertebrates (crustaceans, platforms, rotifers, cladóceros), as well as some vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, fish and even birds on certain occasions).

We recommend you read this other ecology article about the parthenogenesis: what is and examples.

The asexual reproduction in plants It is also commonly known as vegetative reproduction. In it, plants reproduce through structures other than seeds, such as stems (stakes, grafts), leaves, yolks, and even roots (tubers, rhizomes, bulbs). In the following list we will see some Examples of plants with asexual reproductionboth groups of plants that follow these mechanisms naturally, and other species that human beings treat in crops for improvements in agricultural production.

Examples of plants with asexual reproduction naturally

• Ferns
• Mushrooms
• Unicellular algae (Euglena spp.)

Examples of plants with artificial asexual reproduction

• Strawberries (modifications in aerial stolons)
• Sorghum (Rizomas modifications)
• Orange (cuttings)

Here you can expand the information about the plants with asexual reproduction: characteristics and examples and here more specifically about how ferns are reproduced.

So much Some vertebrate animals like many invertebrates They are able to reproduce asexually. Sometimes, this asexual reproduction is complementary to sexual, and simply choose it in adverse survival conditions, while for other animals it is its usual reproduction process. Let’s see in the following list some of the examples of animals with asexual reproduction, among which there are cnidarians, fish, reptiles, etc.

• Jellyfish
• Anemones.
• Corals
• Sea sponges.
• Nematodes.
• Cladóceros.
• Sea stars (Linckia genre).
• Molluscs: Asian snail (Tarebia Granifera).
• Fish: hammer shark (Sphyrna Mokarran).
• Reptiles: lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus and Gecko Binoei heteronotia).

As you already know asexual reproduction, we want to encourage you to learn more about the vital functions of living beings.

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