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CHAPTER 1
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REPRODUCTION IN ORGANISMS

Important definitions and terms

Life Span The period from birth to the natural death of an organism is known as life
span. Example: life span of butterfly is 1-2 weeks.

Reproduction is a biological process in which an organism gives rise to individual similar

to itself.

Clone Morphologically and genetically similar individuals are termed as clones.

Parthenogenesis - Development of the female gamete into a new organism without

fertilisation is called parthenogenesis. It occurs in organisms such as rotifers, honeybees,
some lizards and turkeys.

Embryogenesis - It refers to the process of development of embryo from the zygote.

Juvenile phase The period of growth in organisms before they reach maturity.

Important terms

Zoospores Microscopic, motile asexual reproductive structures found in organisms

such as algae and fungi.

Conidia Structures of asexual reproduction in Penicillium .

Gemmules Structures of asexual reproduction in Sponges.

Vegetative propagules Structures such as runner, rhizome, sucker, , tuber, offset and
bulb which are units of asexual (vegetative) reproduction in plants.

Oestrous cycle Cyclic changes in the activities of ovaries, hormones, and other accessory
parts of the female reproductive tract in non primates such as cows, rats, sheep etc.

Menstrual cycle Cyclic changes in the activities of ovaries, hormones and other regions
of the female reproductive parts in primates such as man and monkeys.

Homogametes Also called iso gametes, and the male and female gametes are similar
in appearance. Eg. in algae.

Heterogametes Morphologically dissimilar gametes. Smaller is the male gamete called

sperm or antherozoid and female gamete is bigger and called egg or ovum.

Gametogenesis Process of formation of gametes.

Monoecious Also termed as homothallic, are bisexual algae and fungi and plants: Eg
Cucurbits, coconuts.

Dioecious Also termed as heterothallic are unisexual plants. Eg. Papaya, date palm.

Hermaphrodites Animals bearing both male and female reproductive organs. EgEarthworms, sponeg, tapeworm, leech.

Pollination Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma.

Syngamy Also called fertilization, and is the process of fusion of gametes during sexual
reproduction . It results in the formation of zygote.

External fertilisation Gametic fusion where the male and the female gametes are
liberated in an external medium such as water, and syngamy takes place in the external
medium only. Eg-Amphibians, fishes.

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Internal fertilisation When syngamy takes place inside the body of the female
organism.

Oviparous animals Egg laying animals where the development of the zygote takes
place outside the body of the female parent. Eg reptiles such as crocodile, birds.

Viviparous Development of the zygote takes place inside the body of the female
organism.

Pericarp Wall of the fruit is called pericarp.

Important Diagrams

Cell division in unicellular organisms eg.- Budding in yeast

Cell division in unicellular organisms eg.- Binary fission in Amoeba

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Vegetative propagules in angiosperms
a) Eyes of potato
b) Rhizome of ginger
c) Bulbil of Agave
d) Leaf buds of Bryophyllum
e) Offset of water hyacinth

Certain types of fruit showing seeds (S) and protective pericarp (P)

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