Asexual reproduction

• in asexual reproduction there is only one parent
• the offspring are clones of the parent and each other. this means that they are genetically identical
• Bacteria reproduce asexually in a process called binary fusion. this is an advantage because they can produce many bacteria very quickly, a disadvantage is that all the bacteria are genetically identical.
• Because bacteria are genetically identical, if an antibiotic was used on them, then all of them would die. the population would be wiped out
• The only way for variation to be introduced into the population is through random mutation
• Mutations occur randomly so it may take a long time for a useful mutation to appear.
• Asexual reproduction allows organisms to adapt rapidly to their environment as new individuals with different characteristics will arise from mutations
• Advantages:

  • the population can increase rapidly when the conditions are favorable
  • reproduction can occur at any time
  • only one parent is needed
  • it is more time and energy efficient as breeding partners are not needed
  • it is faster than sexual reproduction
  • it allows us to know what characteristics the offspring will have
• Disadvantages:

  • It does not lead to genetic variation in a population
  • the species may only be suited to one habitat
  • a change in environmental conditions may affect all the individuals in a population. (a pathogen may destroy a whole population)
• Binary fission - bacterial cell divides by splitting down the middle
• Bacteria reproduce by binary fission which involves replicating DNA and dividing cytoplasm equally between two daughter cells