6. Distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction. Why is vegetative reproduction also considered as a type of asexual reproduction?
Differences between sexual and asexual reproduction are as follows:
Asexual reproduction | Sexual reproduction |
It involves a single parent | It involves two parents |
There is no requirement of sex organs and gametes | Gamete formation occurs in sex organs |
It involves somatic cells of the body | it involves germ cells of the body |
Offsprings produced in asexual reproduction are exactly similar to their parent | offsprings produced in sexual reproduction are different from their parents |
It occurs rapidly | It is a slow process |
It occurs in unicellular organisms, lower invertebrates, plants etc. | It occurs in higher organisms |
Vegetative reproduction is considered to be a type of asexual reproduction because
1. Vegetative reproduction is uniparental i.e. it involves a single parent.
2. The reproductive propagules of vegetative reproduction are somatic cells as in asexual reproduction.
3. Meiosis and fertilisation are absent in vegetative reproduction.
4. Vegetative reproduction does not cause variations. The offsprings produced are similar to their parent