Fertilization

Topics:Sexual reproduction

FertilizationGenetic diversity

Cloning (bonus)

Lots of organisms don’t need partners to make a baby. Known as asexual reproduction Examples: Cloning, dividing perennial plants

and bacteria reproduction.

What Sexual Reproduction is…

It is a way to increase genetic diversity

A process that requires fertilization

Fertilization

The fusion of two halpoid gametes to form a new organism (baby)

The new organism is a zygote In humans

fertilization occurs when the sperm fuses with the egg inside the female

Fertilization can also happen outside the body or inside male bodies.

Outside: many fish, frogs etc In the male: sea horses

Genetic Diversity

Characteristic of a gene pool Gene pool is the genes available within a

reproducing group of individuals More diversity means that there are many

different versions of otherwise similar organisms.

Examples: high genetic diversity at an Olympic stadium, low genetic diversity at a KKK meeting

Non human examples: potato famine, pine beetle outbreak, cheetahs