Unit 1: The basis of life                                              1   2   3   4   5   6

6. Cellular reproduction

Cellular reproduction is the processes by which a cell (mother cell) obtains copies (daughter cells) similar or identical to it by division.

    - In unicellular organisms, cellular division replicates an entire organism. 

      As a result, new individuals are formed.

    - In multicellular organisms, cellular division results in an increase in the number

      of cells  of an organism. As a result the organism grows and repairs its damaged

      parts.

There are two kinds of reproduction: sexual and asexual.

 a) Asexual reproduction

     Daughter cells are identical to mother cell. To assure it, the genetic material is

     replicated before the cell division through a process called mitosis.

     There are several ways to divide the mother cell:

b) Sexual reproduction

    Daughter cells are similar, but not identical, to mother cell. To assure it, the genetic
    material is combined during a special cell division and distributed among the

    daughter cells.

    This cell division is called meiosis and produces gametes.

    These gametes have only a half of the genetic material of the mother cell and

    they have to join with other gamete to form a new individual.

6.1. Answer these questions:

       a. Which is the result of cellular reproduction in unicellular organisms?

       b. And in multicellular organisms?

6.2. Relate each sentence with its correspondent concept:

       a. It is a cellular division made to produce gametes.

       b. Daughter cells do not have the same size.

       c. Daughter cells only have a half of the genetic material of the mother cell.

       d. Mother cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

       e. Mother cell divides into many identical daughter cells.

       f. Genetic material replicates before cell’s division.