Chapter 8: How Organisms Reproduce - CBSE Class 10

Science Notes
Asexual Reproduction

 It involves a single parent.

 There is no formation or fusion of gametes.
 The offspring are nearly identical to each other and the parent cell.
 Asexual reproduction typically occurs in favorable environmental conditions and when
there is an abundance of food.
 It is a quicker method of reproduction.

Types of Asexual Reproduction in Unicellular Organisms:

(i) Binary Fission: Observed in bacteria, protozoa like Amoeba, Paramecium. This process
involves the division of the nucleus followed by the division of cytoplasm, resulting in the
formation of two daughter cells. Binary fission occurs during highly favorable conditions. The
cell division can occur in any plane, as in the case of Amoeba. However, in organisms like
Leishmania (causing Kala-azar), binary fission occurs in a specific orientation in relation to the
flagellum.

Cytokinesis: Refers to the division of cytoplasm.

Karyokinesis: Refers to the division of the nucleus.

(ii) Multiple Fission: Seen in Plasmodium, a malarial parasite. During unfavorable conditions,
the parent cell forms a cyst with a thick resistant wall. The cytoplasm divides multiple times
within the wall to form many plasmodia. When conditions become favorable, the cyst wall
breaks, releasing the Plasmodium.

(iii) Budding: Observed in Yeast, a fungus. The parent yeast cell develops an outgrowth at its
upper end. The nucleus of the parent cell divides, with one moving into the outgrowth, which
eventually separates from the parent cell to live independently. Under highly favorable
conditions, a chain of buds may form.

Types of Asexual Reproduction in Multicellular Organisms:

(i) Fragmentation: Seen in multicellular organisms with a simple body organization like
Spirogyra. Spirogyra, with a filamentous body, breaks into smaller fragments, each capable of
forming a new individual. However, not all multicellular organisms can undergo cell-by-cell
division, as cells form tissues that make up organs placed at specific positions in the body,
requiring more complex methods of reproduction.

(ii) Regeneration: The ability of organisms to regenerate lost parts. Some organisms, like
Planaria, exhibit high regenerative capacity, which also serves as a means of reproduction.
(iii) Budding: Seen in Hydra, where a bud develops at the lower end of the parent Hydra, grows
in size, and eventually breaks off to live independently.

(iv) Spore Formation: Observed in Rhizopus, a fungus. Rhizopus's body consists of thread-like
structures called hyphae, with erect hyphae bearing sporangia inside which spores are formed.
Spores, having a thick protective wall, are produced during unfavorable times to survive harsh
environmental conditions. When spores land on a suitable medium, each can develop into a new
individual.

(v) Vegetative Propagation: A method by which plants reproduce using vegetative parts such as
roots, stems, and leaves.

Types of Vegetative Propagation:

 Natural vegetative propagation.

 Artificial vegetative propagation (Tissue culture).

Mint reproduces naturally through roots, while plants like sugarcane and jasmine reproduce
through stems, and Biyophyllum reproduces through leaves. In Biyophyllum, buds are formed in
the notches along the leaf margins, developing into new plants when they fall on the soil.

Importance of Vegetative Propagation:

 Plants can bear flowers and fruits earlier.

 Plants that have lost the ability to produce viable seeds can still reproduce through
vegetative propagation.
 All plants are genetically almost identical to the parent plant.
 Seedless varieties can be obtained.
 Horticulturists use the property of vegetative propagation to develop methods like
layering and grafting to grow plants like sugarcane, roses, or grapes.

Tissue Culture: The technique of growing new plants from cells or tissues in a nutrient medium
under sterile conditions. Cells or tissues are placed in a nutrient medium to form a mass of cells
called callus, which is then transferred to another medium where it differentiates to form a new
plant.

Sexual Reproduction: The mode of reproduction involving two individuals of different sexes,
male and female, resulting in the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote that
develops into a new organism.

Significance of Sexual Reproduction:

 Sexual reproduction promotes diversity of characters in offspring by involving DNA and

cellular apparatus from two different organisms.
 It leads to new combinations of genes, increasing genetic variations.
 Sexual reproduction contributes to the origin of new species.
  It involves division in sex organs, reducing DNA matter to half to maintain DNA
consistency in a species.

Limitation of Sexual Reproduction: Involves combining DNA from two different organisms,
which may introduce undesirable features.

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants:

 Reproductive parts are located in the flower.

 Parts of the flower include sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.
 Sepals protect inner parts when the flower is in bud stage.
 Petals attract insects for pollination.
 Stamens produce pollen grains containing male gametes, while carpels produce ovules
containing female gametes.

Pollination: The transfer of pollen grains from an anther to the stigma of a flower. It can be self-
pollination (within the same flower) or cross-pollination (between different flowers or plants of
the same species).

Fertilization: The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote during sexual
reproduction. After pollination, pollen grains land on the stigma, forming a pollen tube that
reaches the ovary to facilitate fertilization.

Post-fertilization changes: After fertilization, the zygote divides to form an embryo inside the
ovule, which develops into a seed. The ovary grows into a fruit, while other parts of the flower
wither and fall off.

Seed and its parts: Seeds protect the embryo and consist of cotyledons for storing food and an
embryo with plumule developing into a shoot and radicle into a root. The process of seedling
development from the embryo under suitable conditions is germination.

Reproduction in Human Beings: Human beings exhibit sexual reproduction, with males
producing sperms and females producing eggs. Reproductive maturity, known as puberty, marks
the onset of reproductive activity, with physical, mental, and emotional changes occurring in
boys and girls.

Male Reproductive System: Consists of testes, ducts, glands, and a copulatory organ called the
penis. Testes produce sperms and testosterone, while other glands secrete fluids to aid in sperm
transport.

Female Reproductive System: Includes ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina. Ovaries
produce eggs and hormones, with the fallopian tubes serving as the site for fertilization and the
uterus for embryo development.
Reproductive Health: Ensures overall well-being in all aspects of reproduction, encompassing
physical, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects. Contraception methods help in preventing
unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Birth control measures: Include mechanical, chemical, and surgical methods to prevent
pregnancy and control population growth.

Chapter 8: Organism Reproduction - CBSE Class 10 Science

Notes
Asexual Reproduction

A single parent is involved in asexual reproduction, producing offspring that are nearly identical.
This method is quick and occurs in favorable conditions.

Types of Asexual Reproduction

1. Binary Fission: Common in bacteria and protozoa.

2. Multiple Fission: Seen in Plasmodium.
3. Budding: Found in yeast.

Types of Asexual Reproduction in Multicellular Organisms

1. Fragmentation: Observed in Spirogyra.

2. Regeneration: Seen in Planaria.
3. Budding: In Hydra.
4. Spore Formation: In Rhizopus.
5. Vegetative Propagation: Using vegetative parts.

Importance of Vegetative Propagation

 Allows early flowering and fruiting.

 Enables reproduction in plants without viable seeds.
 Results in genetically identical plants.
 Facilitates seedless varieties.
 Used in horticulture for methods like layering and grafting.

Tissue Culture

A technique for growing new plants from cells or tissues.

Sexual Reproduction

Involves fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Significance of Sexual Reproduction

 Promotes diversity in offspring.

 Increases genetic variations.
 Contributes to new species.
 Maintains DNA consistency.

Limitations of Sexual Reproduction

May introduce undesirable features.

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Reproductive parts are located in the flower.

Pollination and Fertilization

 Pollination: Transfer of pollen.

 Fertilization: Fusion of gametes.

Post-fertilization Changes

Embryo development into seed, ovary into fruit.

Seed Structure

Embryo protection with cotyledons.

Reproduction in Humans

Sexual reproduction with male and female systems.

Reproductive Health

Includes physical, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects.

Birth Control Measures

 Mechanical, chemical, surgical methods.

Essential for preventing pregnancy and controlling population growth.