CHAPTER 1

REPRODUCTION IN ORGANISMS
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. A few statements describing certain features of reproduction are given below:

i. Gametic fusion takes place
ii. Transfer of genetic material takes place
iii. Reduction division takes place
iv. Progeny have some resemblance with parents
Select the options that are true for both asexual and sexual reproduction from the options given below:
(a) i and ii; (b ) ii and iii; (c) ii and iv; (d) i and iii.

2. The term ‘clone’ cannot be applied to offspring formed by sexual reproduction because:
(a) Offspring do not possess exact copies of parental DNA
(b) DNA of only one parent is copied and passed on to the offspring
(c) Offspring are formed at different times
(d) DNA of parent and offspring are completely different.

3 Asexual method of reproduction by binary fission is common to which of the following?

i. Some eukaryotes
ii. All eukaryotes
iii. Some prokaryotes
iv. All prokaryotes
Choose the correct option from the following:
(a) I and ii
(b) ii and III
(c) I and ili
(d) iii and Iv

4. A few statements with regard to sexual reproduction are given below:

I .Sexual reproduction does not always require two individuals
ii. Sexual reproduction generally involves gametic fusion
iil. Meiosis never occurs during sexual reproduction
iv. External fertilisation is a rule during sexual reproduction
Choose the correct statements from the options below:
(a) i and iv (b) i and ii (c) ii and iii (d) i and iv

5 A multicellular, filamentous alga exhibits a type of sexual life cycle in which the meiotic division occurs
after the formation of zygote. The adult filament of this alga has
(a) haploid vegetative cells and diploid gametangla
(b) diploid vegetative cells and diploid gametangia
(c) diploid vegetative cells and haploid gametangla
(d) haploid vegetative cells and haploid gametangla.

6 The male gametes of rice plant have 12 chromosomes in their nucleus. The chromosome number in the
female gamete, zygote and the cells of the seedling will be, respectively,
(a) 12 , 24 , 12
(b) 24 ,12 , 12
(c) 12 , 24 , 24
(d) 24 ,12 , 24

7 Given below are a few statements related to external fertilization. Choose

the correct statements.
i. The male and female gametes are formed and released
 simultaneously
ii. Only a few gametes are released into the medium
iii. Water is the medium in a majority of organisms exhibiting external
fertilization
iv. Offspring formed as a result of external fertilization have better
chance of survival than those formed inside an organism
(a) iii and iv (b) i and iii (c) ii and iv (d) i and iv

8. The statements given below describe certain features that are observed
in the pistil of flowers.
i. Pistil may produce more than one seed
ii. Each carpel may have more than one ovule
iii. Each carpel has only one ovule
iv. Pistil have only one carpel
Choose the statements that are true from the options below:
(a) i and ii (b) i and iii (c) ii and iv (d) iii and iv

9. Which of the following situations correctly describe the similarity between an angiosperm egg and a
human egg?
i. Eggs of both are formed only once in a lifetime
ii. Both the angiosperm egg and human egg are stationary
iii. Both the angiosperm egg and human egg are mobile
iv. Syngamy in both results in the formation of zygote
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(a) ii and iv (b) iv only (c) iii and iv (d) i and iv

10. Appearance of vegetative propagules from the nodes of plants such as sugarcane and ginger is mainly
because:
(a) Nodes are shorter than internodes
(b) Nodes have meristematic cells
(c) Nodes are located near the soil
(d) Nodes have non-photosynthetic cells

11. Which of the following statements, support the view that elaborate sexual reproductive process appeared
much later in the organic evolution.
i. Lower groups of organisms have simpler body design
ii. Asexual reproduction is common in lower groups
iii. Asexual reproduction is common in higher groups of organisms
iv. The high incidence of sexual reproduction in angiosperms and
vertebrates
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(a) i, ii and iii; (b) i, iii and iv (c) i, ii and iv (d) ii, iii and iv

12. Offspring formed by sexual reproduction exhibit more variation than those formed by Asexual
reproduction because:
(a) Sexual reproduction is a lengthy process
(b) Gametes of parents have qualitatively different genetic composition
(c) Genetic material comes from parents of two different species
(d) Greater amount of DNA is involved in sexual reproduction.

13. Choose the correct statement from amongst the following:

(a) Dioecious (hermaphrodite) organisms are seen only in animals
(b) Dioecious organisms are seen only in plants
(c) Dioecious organisms are seen in both plants and animals
(d) Dioecious organisms are seen only in vertebrates
14. There is no natural death in single celled organisms like Amoeba and bacteria because:
a. They cannot reproduce sexually
b. They reproduce by binary fission
c. Parental body is distributed among the offspring
d. They are microscopic

15. There are various types of reproduction. The type of reproduction adopted by an organism depends on:
a. The habitat and morphology of the organism
b. Morphology of the organism
c. Morphology and physiology of the organism
d. The organism’s habitat, physiology and genetic makeup

16. Identify the incorrect statement.

a. In asexual reproduction, the offspring produced are
morphologically and genetically identical to the parent
b. Zoospores are sexual reproductive structures
c. In asexual reproduction, a single parent produces offspring with
or without the formation of gametes
d. Conidia are asexual structures in Penicillium

17. Which of the following is a post-fertilisation event in flowering plants?

a. Transfer of pollen grains
b. Embryo development
c. Formation of flower
d. Formation of pollen grains

18. The number of chromosomes in the shoot tip cells of a maize plant is 20.
The number of chromosomes in the microspore mother cells of the same
plant shall be:
a. 20
b. 10
c. 40
d. 15
 Very short Answer type question

1 Mention two inherent characteristics of Amoeba and yeast that enable them to reproduce asexually.
2 Why do we refer to offspring formed by asexual method of reproduction as clones?
3 Although potato tuber is an underground part, it is considered as a stem. Give two reasons.
4 Between an annual and a perenntal plant, which one has a shorter juvenile phase? Give one reason.
5 Rearrange the following events of sexual reproduction in the sequence in which they occur in a flowering
plant:
embryogenesis, fertilisation, gametogenesis, pollination.
6 The probability of fruit set in a self-pollinated bisexual flower of a plant is far greater than a dioecious
plant. Explain.
7 Is the presence of large number of chromosomes in an organism a hindrance to sexual reproduction?
Justify your answer by giving suitable reasons.
8 Is there a relationship between the size of an organism and its life span? Give two examples in support of
your answer.
9 In the figure given below the plant bears two different types of flowers marked ' A ' and ' B '. Identify the
types of flowers and state the type of pollination that will occur in them.

10. Give reasons as to why cell division cannot be a type of reproduction in multicellular organisms.
11. In the figure given below, mark the ovule and pericarp.
12. Why do gametes produced in large numbers in organisms exhibit external fertilisation?
13 Which of the followings are monoecious and dioecious organisms.
a. Earthworm ________________
b. Chara ________________
c. Marchantla ________________
d. Cockroach _________________
14 Match the organisms given in Column-'A' with the vegetative propagules given in column 'B'.
Col. A Col. B
i. Bryophyllum (a) offset
ii. Agave (b) eyes
iii Potato (c) leaf buds
iv Water hyacinth (d) bulbils
15 What do the following parts of a flower develop into after fertilisation?
a. Ovary ___________
b. Ovules ___________

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1 In haploid organisms that undergo sexual reproduction, name the stage in the life cycle when meiosis
occurs. Give reasons for your answer.
2 The number of taxa exhibiting asexual reproduction is drastically reduced in higher plants (anglosperms)
and higher animals (vertebrates) as compared with lower groups of plants and animals. Analyse the
possible reasons for this situation.
3 Honeybees produce their young ones only by sexual reproduction. Inspite of this, in a colony of bees we
find both haploid and diploid individuals. Name the haploid and diploid individuals in the colony and
analyse the reasons behind their formation.
4 With which type of reproduction do we associate the reduction division? Analyse the reasons for it.
5 Is it possible to consider vegetative propagation observed in certain plants like Bryophyllum, water
hyacinth, ginger etc., as a type of asexual reproduction? Give two/three reasons.
6 'Fertilisation is not an obligatory event for fruit production in certains plants'. Explain the statement.
7 In a developing embryo, analyse the consequences if cell divisions are not followed by cell differentiation.
8 List the changes observed in an anglosperm flower subsequent to pollination and fertilisation.
9 Suggest a possible explanation why the seeds in a pea pod are arranged in a row, whereas those in tomato
are scattered in the juicy pulp.
10 Draw the sketches of a zoospore and a contdium. Mention two dissimilarities between them and atleast one
feature common to both structures.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1 Enumerate the differences between asexual and sexual reproduction. Describe the types of asexual
reproduction exhibited by unicellular organisms.
2 Do all the gametes formed from a parent organism have the same genetic composition (identical DNA
copies of the parental genome)? Analyse the situation with the background of gametogenesis and provide
or give suitable explanation.
3 Although sexual reproduction is a long drawn, energy-intensive complex form of reproduction, many
groups of organisms in Kingdom Animalia and Plantae prefer this mode of reproduction. Give atleast three|
reasons for this.
4 Differentiate between (a) oestrus and menstrual cycles; (b) ovipary and vivipary. Cite an example for each
type.
5 Rose plants produce large, attractive bisexual flowers but they seldom produce fruits. On the other hand a
tomato plant produces plenty of fruits though they have small flowers. Analyse the reasons for failure of
fruit formation in rose.
Both these plants - rose and tomato - both selected by human beings for different characteristics, the rose
for its flower and tomato for its fruit. Roses, being vegetatively propagated do not need to produce seeds
 Answers

MCQ

1. c
2. a
3. c
4. b
5. d
6. c
7. b
8. a
9. b
10. b
11. c
12. b
13. c
14. c
15. d
16. b
17. b
18. a

Very short Answer type question

1. a. They are unicellular organisms.

b. They have a very simple body structure.
2. Offspring formed by asexual reproduction are called clones because they are morphologically and genetically
similar to the parent
3. a. The tuber has nodes and internodes.
b. Leafy shoots appear from the nodes.
4. An annual has a shorter juvenile phase. Since its entire life cycle has to be completed in one growing season, its
juvenile phase is shorter.
5. Gametogenesis  Pollination  Fertilisation  Embryogenesis
Gametogenesis-: It is the event which involves the formation of gametes.
Pollination-: It is the event which involves the dispersal of pollens (male gametes).
Fertilization-: It is defined as the fusion of gametes.
Embryogenesis-: It is defined as the development of an embryo.
6. The probability of fruit set in a self-pollinated bisexual flower of a plant is far greater than a dioecious plant.
In self-pollinated bisexual plants transfer of pollen to stigma of flowers is easier than the dioecious plants. It is
so because the anther and stigma lie close to each other and pollination is not effected even in the absence of
pollinator. But in dioecious plants pollinator is necessary to bring about effective pollination as the anther and
stigma lie away from each other
7. No, this is not true. The no. of chromosomes never decides the mode of reproduction. For example, there are 8
chromosomes in the somatic cells of fruit fly while there are 360 chromosomes in case of butterflies, but both
the organisms reproduce by the sexual mode only.
8. There is no relationship between the size of an organism and its life span. For example- the mango tree and
Peepal tree are both similar in size but the mango tree has a shorter duration as compared to peepal.
Another example is parrot and crow. Both have the same size but a parrot lives for more than 100 years and
that of a crow is 10-15 years. So it is very clear that there is no relationship between the size of an organism
and its life span.
9. A—Chasmogamous flower (the flowers remain open, exposing anthers and stigmas).
B—Cleistogamous flowers (the flowers remain closed, so that anthers and stigmas are
 never exposed) following are the types of pollination that will occur in these flowers.
(i) Autogamy (within same flower)
(ii) Geitonogamy (different flowers of same plant)
(iii) Xenogamy (different plants)
It is a case of cleistogamy (a type of autogamy) in which some plants, like, Commelina bengalensis possess both
chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers.
In chasmogamous flowers, the flowers may undergo self-pollination or cross-pollination, while in
cleistogamous flowers, the flowers undergo only self-pollination.
10. Multicellular organisms are provided with complex body organization. There is the division of labor. One
cannot produce the different types of tissues by mitosis only. Hence, cell division cannot be a type of
reproduction in multicellular organisms.
11. Ovule-: It is the plant structure that develops into the seeds.
Pericarp-: It is the protective covering of seeds that develops from the ovary.
12. Organisms that take part in such process produce large number of gametes because
(i) In external fertilisation, there is a great chance that the sperm and the eggs released by the organisms can be
affected by factors present in the environment like dessication, predators, etc. So, to make up for the high
fatality rate of the gametes, the organism produces a lot of gametes.
(ii) Producing large number of gametes increase the chance for at least some eggs and sperms to meet in the
environment ensuring that atleast a stable number of offspring are able to survive and carry on.
13. a. Earthworm – Monoecious, b. Chara – Monoecious, c. Marchantia – Dioecious, d. Cockroach – Dioecious.
Terms such as homothallic and monoecious are used to represent the bisexual conditions in male and female
reproductive structures in the same plant, whereas the terms like heterothallic and dioecious are used to
indicate unisexual conditions in male and female reproductive structures on separate plants, but not in
animals. Individuals which are either male or female are usually known as unisexual and the individual which
possesses both the male and female reproductive organs are known as bisexual.
14.

Col. A Col. B
i. Bryophyllum (a) leaf buds
ii. Agave (b) bulbils
iii Potato (c) eyes
iv Water hyacinth (d) offset
15. (a) Ovary ........... fruit (b) Ovules .......... seed
After fertilisation, the zygote develops into the embryo and the ovules develop into the seed.
The ovary develops into the fruit which develops a thick, protective wall called pericarp

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Meiosis can take place only in a diploid stage (post-zygotic stage) because the zygote is the only diploid cell in
the life cycle of such organisms. This meiosis an case of haploid organisms will occur of the fertilisation.
2. The number of taxa exhibiting asexual reproduction is drastically reduced in higher plants(angiosperms) and
higher animals(vertebrates) as compared with lower groups of plants and animals because:-
 As we move to the higher and advanced forms of plants and animals, their bodies become complex and
sexual dimorphism occurs. Hence, the males and females undergo mutual attraction and perform sexual
reproduction.
The process of evolution requires variation in the hierarchy of classification which is fulfilled by sexual
reproduction.
3. Haploid individuals are male as drones. Diploid individuals are sterile females as workers and one female as
queen.
Reason: Both haploid and individuals are the result of both sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis.
Fertilized eggs (Zvgote) give rise to females (Both workers and queens) by the process of sexual reproduction
and unfertilized eggs give rise to male individuals (Drones) by the process of parthenogenesis.
4. Reduction division (meiosis) is associated with sexual reproduction. The reasons are
 (i) Since, sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two types of gametes male and female), they must have
haploid number of chromosomes.
(ii) The cell (meiocyte) which gives rise to gametes often has diploid number of chromosomes and it is only by
reducing the number by half that we can get haploid gametes.
(iii) Reduction division also ensures maintenance of constancy of chromosome number from generation to
generation.
5. The formation of new plants from vegetative units (vegetative propagules) such as buds, tubers, rhizomes. etc.,
is called vegetative propagation (vegetative reproduction). It can be considered as a type of asexual
reproduction as it involves the production of new individuals.
(i) by a single parent
(ii) without the formation and fusion of gametes
(iii) without resulting in any genetic or morphological variations
6. Fertilisation is not an obligatory event for fruit production in certain plants. Some fruits are developed from
unfertilised ovary called parthenocarpic fruits.
These are seedless fruits, such as pomegranate, grapes, etc. Flowers of these plants are sprayed by a growth
hormone that induces fruit development even though fertilisation has not occurred. The ovules of such fruits,
however, fail to develop into seeds.
7. Cell divisions increase the number of cells in the developing embryo, while cell differentiation helps group of
cells to undergo certain modifications to form specialised tissues and organs to form an organism.
At many stages of embryogenesis, if cell differentiation does not occur, the embryo cannot develop into a new
organism. It will only remain as a mass of cells.
8. Changes that took place in an angiosperm flower after the pollination and fertilization are-:
1. Sepals, Petals & Stamens fall off.
2. Zygote develops into embryo, ovary develops into fruit & ovules develop into seeds.
3. Fruit develops a thick covering, named pericarp (protective covering of seeds).
9. This is because of different types of placentation that is responsible for the arrangement of seeds. A pea plant
shows marginal placentation while the tomatoes show axial placentation.

Marginal placentation -: In this kind of placentation placenta forms a ridge along the ventral suture of the
ovary and the ovules develop in two separate rows.
Axial placentation-: It is the type of placentation in which carpal folds inward with ovules (future seeds)
placed along the central axis of the ovary (future fruit).

10.
 Dissimilarities:
Zoospores Conidia
These are motile spores These are non-motile spores
They are produced within the sporangium They are produced at the tip of conidiophores,
exogenously
The common feature between both structures is that they are involved in asexual reproduction.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.
.
Asexual Reproduction Sexual Reproduction
a) Zygote formation is absent. a) Zygote formation is present (fusion of gametes)
b) Single parent is involved (uniparental). b) Two parents are involved (biparental)
c) Somatic cells helps in asexual reproduction. c) Germ cells are involved in this reproduction.
d) Only mitotic division of cells occurs. d) Meiosis is observed during gamete formation.
e) Offspring is a clone of the parent. e) The offspring show variation.
Asexual reproduction by unicellular organisms:
Asexual reproduction is a process in which a single-celled organism is involved and offsprings are produced by cell
division.
 Binary fission is a mode of asexual reproduction in which the cell divides into two cells and each one
rapidly grows into an adult. This mode is seen in Paramecium and Amoeba.
 Budding is another mode of asexual reproduction that is observed in yeast. Small buds are attached to the
parent body and as it matures, it detaches itself and grows into another adult organism.

2. No, all the gametes formed from a parent organism do not have the same genetic composition.
It can be better understand with the help of the explanation given below Sexual reproduction in organisms
generally involves the fusion of gametes from two different individuals. These gametes form by the process of
gametogenesis. In the heterogametic species, gametes are of two types namely male and female. Gametes are
haploid though the parent body from which they arise may be either haploid or diploid.
(a) A haploid parent like Monera, fungi, algae and bryophytes produce gametes by mitotic division. The number
of chromosomes, i.e., the genetic composition remain same after such type of division.
(b) The diploid parent like pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms and most of the animals including
human beings produces gametes by meiosis. In such organisms (diploid), specialised cells called meiocytes
(gamete mother cell) undergo meiosis. At the end of meiosis only one set of chromosomes gets incorporated
 into each gamete. It means the gametes formed contain a haploid number of chromosomes in contrast to the
number of chromosomes in mother cells.
3. Sexual reproduction is the process of reproduction which involves the fusion of gametes that comes either
from two different individuals of opposite sexes or the same individual provided with both the sexes. Most of
the animals specially the higher animals prefer sexual mode of reproduction because-:
1. Sexual reproduction contributes to the variation in the gene pool thus ensures the survival of fittest.
2. The offspring that are produced by this method contain the characteristics of both the parents. In most of the
cases the offspring is superior to the parental generation in terms of adaptation & survival.
3. The chances of survival in this kind of reproduction is more because of the presence of variations that acts as
the source of evolution.
4.
(a) Oestrus and Menstrual cycles
Oestrus Cycle Menstrual Cycle
It is a cyclical change during reproduction that is only This cyclical change is throughout the year during their
seasonal. reproductive phase.
The endometrium is reabsorbed during the process. Endometrium flows out of the uterus during
menstruation.
The female allows copulation during their oestrus The female does not allow copulation during this
period. period.
The unfertilised egg flows out of the body with the No blood loss is observed.
blood.
It is generally observed in non-primates such as cows, It comprises primates such as monkeys, apes, humans.
sheep, rats, deer, etc.

(b) Ovipary and vivipary

Ovipary Vivipary
The formation of a zygote occurs outside the female The formation of a zygote occurs inside the female
body. body.
They lay fertilised or unfertilised eggs. The fertilisation occurs inside the body that gives birth
to offspring.
Fertilised eggs remain in a hard calcareous shell, laid The young one develops inside of the mother and after
in safe surroundings that hatch after a significant it attains a certain growth, the young one is delivered
period. out of the female body.
The chances of survival are less because of the open The chances of survival are high because of the closed
environment. environment.
Birds and reptiles are examples of oviparous Mammals such as humans, cows, elephants, giraffes
organisms. etc., are viviparous.

5. Rose plants produce large, attractive bisexual flowers, but they seldom produce fruits. The reasons for failure
of fruit formation in rose can be-:
(i) They may not produce viable pollen, hence, fertilization can’t take place.
(ii) They may have non-functional eggs.
(iii) They may have defective and non-functional ovules, which act as the female gametophyte generator.
(iv) They may be genetically self-incompatible that fails them to produce seed.
(v) Internal barrier which restricts the pollen tube growth or fertilization.
Therefore, due to its distinct characteristics in flower and fruit formation ability, humans select rose plants for
flower and propagate by vegetative methods. On the other hand, tomatoes are selected to utilize the fruits as
vegetables and propagated by seeds only