Reproduktsioon

Reproduktsioon, also known as reproduction, is the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced. This process ensures the continuation of species and the diversity of life. There are two primary modes of reproduction: asexual and sexual.

Asexual reproduction involves a single parent producing genetically identical offspring. This method is common in bacteria, archaea, and many single-celled eukaryotes, as well as some multicellular organisms like plants and fungi. Common forms of asexual reproduction include binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and vegetative propagation. The offspring are clones of the parent, meaning they have the same genetic material. This method is efficient and rapid, allowing for quick population growth.

Sexual reproduction, on the other hand, involves the fusion of gametes (sex cells), typically from two parents, to produce genetically diverse offspring. In most animals, gametes are sperm and eggs, and their fusion forms a zygote. This process involves meiosis, a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, and fertilization, the joining of sperm and egg. The resulting offspring inherit genetic material from both parents, leading to greater genetic variation within a population. This variation can be advantageous for adaptation to changing environments.