The biological phenomenon in which offspring similar to parents are produced via the transfer of a genetic substance from the parent to offspring is known as reproduction.
It is of two types- asexual and sexual.
Type of reproduction:
Asexual reproduction:
It is a nascent kind of reproduction performed by the single parent through which one individual possesses the tendency to produce one or multiple offspring without involving another parent.
It lacks gamete formation and fertilisation.
It results in very less or no variation in the offspring produced.
It is generally exhibited by lower organisms.
Examples of asexual reproduction are fission, spore formation, budding, fragmentation, etc.
Sexual reproduction:
It is a phenomenon in which mating of the female and male sex cells takes place to produce the zygote by the process of fertilization.
It is complex in comparison to the asexual mode of reproduction.
It is a lengthy process as it involves two parents.
This primarily results in variations in the offspring produced.
The sexual mode of reproduction takes place through the pre-fertilization stage, fertilization stage, and post-fertilization stage.
It takes place in the majority of animals and plants.