How do Organisms Reproduce? Chapter 7, NCERT Class 10th Notes

 How do Organisms Reproduce? Notes

1. Reproduction Basics:
   - Definition: It's how living things make new individuals like themselves.
   - Purpose: Ensures species survival and continuation.

2. Types of Reproduction:
   - Asexual: One parent, offspring are identical clones.
     - Examples: bacteria, yeast, some plants.
   - Sexual: Two parents, offspring inherit traits from both.
     - Examples: humans, animals, most plants.

3. Asexual Reproduction:
   - Binary Fission: Splitting into two equal parts (bacteria).
   - Budding: New individuals grow from the parent's body (yeast, Hydra).
   - Fragmentation: Breaking into pieces that grow into new organisms (starfish).

4. Sexual Reproduction:
   - Process: Involves two specialized cells (sperm and egg) from different parents.
   - Fertilization: Fusion of sperm and egg to form a new cell (zygote).
   - Variation: Offspring inherit traits from both parents, leading to diversity.

5. Human Reproduction:
   - Male: Produces sperm in testes.
   - Female: Produces eggs (ova) in ovaries.
   - Process: Fertilization occurs in female reproductive system.

6. Advantages of Sexual Reproduction:
   - Genetic Diversity: Allows species to adapt to changing environments.
   - Evolution: Leads to better survival chances through variation.

7. Importance of Reproduction:
   - Species Survival: Essential for continuation of life on Earth.
   - Adaptation: Helps organisms adapt to new conditions over time.

8. Challenges:
   - Complexity: Sexual reproduction requires finding a mate and specialized organs.
   - Resource Intensive: Asexual reproduction can be faster but lacks genetic diversity.

Understanding how organisms reproduce helps us appreciate the diversity of life and how species have evolved to thrive in different environments.