BIOLOGY 101 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Female Sperm, Female Reproductive System, Asexual Reproduction
Document Summary
Sex = any process that results in exchange of genetic matter. Sex is defined biologically as recombination plus outcrossing (from quiz) Gender = biologically determined by which gamete (male or female) retains intracellular organelles when the gametes merge. Asexual organisms can reproduce and spread much faster than sexual organisms. This provides resistance to stresses such as diseases, but at a cost. Based on mitosis, offspring produced are genetically identical to one another and their parent. Reproduction is always available (you only need yourself) Energy efficient (you don"t need to search for a partner) If organism is in environment that is conducive to their survival, offspring will be successful as well (effective traits are not being diluted by breeding as no recessive genes are being thrown into the gene pool) Undesirable traits are maintained rather than being eliminated by interbreeding. If the environment changes, they"re screwed (populations or species can be quickly lost) due to lack of variation.
