Genetics and Reproduction PDF

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Genetics and Reproduction Imanje Mobley BIO/101 Stacey Peralta June 19,2017

Genetics and Reproduction

Female Copperhead Snakes have the Ability to Reproduce both Sexually and Asexually. June 13, 2017

Introduction

Studies show that female copperhead snakes can reproduce with or without a male copperhead. Reproduction is the process of creating offspring. When it comes to reproduction, there are two main types, sexual and asexual. When it comes down to both, sexual and asexual is only suitable for a particular organism based on the living conditions of their environment. Like for us humans, sexual reproduction is better for us because it is easy for us to find a mate and female bodies are not made to reproduce asexually.

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction is a process that requires a male and female of the same species to contribute genetic material. When a female and male gamete, which are cells produced through meiosis, combine, a diploid zygote (fertilized egg) is produced with its own individual genetic makeup. Sexual reproduction allows for variation, which helps with them learning to adapt to environments. Gregor Mendel discovered this type of reproduction, which offspring displays traits from their parents, in the 1800s by using pea plants.

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is a reproduction that occurs without any interaction between two different members of a species. This reproduction happens when a cell divides by regeneration using mitosis, in which each chromosome is copied before the nucleus divides. This process results in each new cell receiving identical genetic information. This means that the offspring comes out as a clone of the mother, which means that all the offspring will be female. Asexual reproduction is used for organisms that remain in one place and are unable to look for makes, like bacteria and many species of plants.

Which is better: Sexual or Asexual

In my opinion, sexual reproduction is the best method for reproduction among copperheads. I think that it is the best method because it leads to genetic diversity. While some may argue that asexual reproduction can produce way more offspring than sexual, is it not better to produce few offspring and have a better chance of survival than to create many and risk the chance of every copperhead being wiped out. Sexual reproduction leads to better survival because of the adaptation in their environment from the diversity that it creates. Unlike asexual reproduction, which can pass the same chromosome down to their offspring, even if it is a bad one, to their offspring, sexual reproduction can reduce the chances that a child will get a bad gene (Diffen, n.d.).

Reference Diffen. (n.d.). Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction. Retrieved from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Asexual_Reproduction_vs_Sexual_Reproduction Matt Jeppson (2017). Copperhead snakes have a distinctive hourglass-shaped pattern. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/43641-copperhead-snake.html...