Question

• Explain how , offspring and parents of organisms reproducing sexually have the same number of chromosomes .
• How are general growth and sexual maturation different from each other ?

Answer 1

1. During sexual reproduction, male and female produce gametes that has half the chromosome number. When fertilization of male and female gamete takes place, chromosome number is restored in the offspring.

2.General growth is the growth of body parts of an individual which takes place in the foetus and after birth but sexual maturation occurs when that individual becomes capable of reproduction (produces gametes). Sexual maturation begins after reaching puberty which occurs at a particular age but general growth takes place before reaching puberty and even after that.